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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Video released of BBC's Johnston | Video released of BBC's Johnston |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A video has appeared on the internet showing the first pictures of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston since his abduction in Gaza on 12 March. | A video has appeared on the internet showing the first pictures of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston since his abduction in Gaza on 12 March. |
| It is said to have been posted by the Army of Islam, the group that says it is holding the reporter. | It is said to have been posted by the Army of Islam, the group that says it is holding the reporter. |
| In the video, Mr Johnston says he is in good health and that his captors have treated him well. | In the video, Mr Johnston says he is in good health and that his captors have treated him well. |
| The BBC said it was studying the video carefully and repeated its call for the immediate release of Mr Johnston. | The BBC said it was studying the video carefully and repeated its call for the immediate release of Mr Johnston. |
| A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was also investigating the contents of the video "to judge the implications for Alan Johnston's safe release". | A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was also investigating the contents of the video "to judge the implications for Alan Johnston's safe release". |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown called on those holding the reporter to free him "as a matter of urgency". | |
| Mr Johnston, 45, was seized nearly 12 weeks ago in Gaza City on his way home. | Mr Johnston, 45, was seized nearly 12 weeks ago in Gaza City on his way home. |
| Abu Qatada | Abu Qatada |
| It is unclear when the video, which has appeared on the al-Ekhlaas website, was recorded. | It is unclear when the video, which has appeared on the al-Ekhlaas website, was recorded. |
| ALAN JOHNSTON PETITION More than 100,000 people have written to the BBC to demand Alan Johnston's release Add your name Send messages of support | ALAN JOHNSTON PETITION More than 100,000 people have written to the BBC to demand Alan Johnston's release Add your name Send messages of support |
| Nor was it clear under what conditions the Scottish reporter was speaking. | Nor was it clear under what conditions the Scottish reporter was speaking. |
| Mr Johnston says: "First of all, my captors have treated me very well... They have fed me well, there has been no violence towards me at all and I'm in good health." | Mr Johnston says: "First of all, my captors have treated me very well... They have fed me well, there has been no violence towards me at all and I'm in good health." |
| Mr Johnston, seated and wearing a red sweatshirt, calls for an end to Western sanctions that have been imposed on the Palestinian government. | Mr Johnston, seated and wearing a red sweatshirt, calls for an end to Western sanctions that have been imposed on the Palestinian government. |
| He talks of the "huge suffering" of the Palestinian people, saying: "Everyday there are Palestinians arrested, imprisoned for no reason. People are killed on a daily basis. The economic suffering is terrible, especially here in Gaza." | He talks of the "huge suffering" of the Palestinian people, saying: "Everyday there are Palestinians arrested, imprisoned for no reason. People are killed on a daily basis. The economic suffering is terrible, especially here in Gaza." |
| ARMY OF ISLAM FACTS Small, Islamist armed group operating in GazaSplinter group of the Popular Resistance CommitteesSeeks liberation of Palestine and an Islamic stateInfluenced by, but not affiliated with, al-QaedaLed by Mumtaz Dugmush, also known as Abu Muhammad, a member of a powerful clanOne of three groups allegedly holding captured Israeli soldier Cpl Gilad Shalit Video: Full transcript | ARMY OF ISLAM FACTS Small, Islamist armed group operating in GazaSplinter group of the Popular Resistance CommitteesSeeks liberation of Palestine and an Islamic stateInfluenced by, but not affiliated with, al-QaedaLed by Mumtaz Dugmush, also known as Abu Muhammad, a member of a powerful clanOne of three groups allegedly holding captured Israeli soldier Cpl Gilad Shalit Video: Full transcript |
| He also says the British government is working to occupy Muslim lands against the will of the people there. | He also says the British government is working to occupy Muslim lands against the will of the people there. |
| Mr Johnston refers to the "failed invasion of Iraq by America and Britain" and the "terrible" situation in Afghanistan. | Mr Johnston refers to the "failed invasion of Iraq by America and Britain" and the "terrible" situation in Afghanistan. |
| At the end of the video, Mr Johnston begins a message to his family, saying, "to my family, to my family..." but the audio is then cut off. | At the end of the video, Mr Johnston begins a message to his family, saying, "to my family, to my family..." but the audio is then cut off. |
| On the tape, the Army of Islam demand the release of Abu Qatada, a Palestinian-born Islamic cleric who is suspected of close links to al-Qaeda and is currently held by the UK government as a threat to national security. | On the tape, the Army of Islam demand the release of Abu Qatada, a Palestinian-born Islamic cleric who is suspected of close links to al-Qaeda and is currently held by the UK government as a threat to national security. |
| In early May, the same group released a videotape showing Mr Johnston's BBC identity card and making the same demand for the release of Abu Qatada, but there has been virtually no other news about the reporter. | In early May, the same group released a videotape showing Mr Johnston's BBC identity card and making the same demand for the release of Abu Qatada, but there has been virtually no other news about the reporter. |
| The BBC issued a statement on Friday saying the corporation had been "working very closely with Alan's family for the past 81 days". | The BBC issued a statement on Friday saying the corporation had been "working very closely with Alan's family for the past 81 days". |
| It read: "This is a highly distressing time for them and for his friends and his colleagues. We repeat our call for his immediate release." | It read: "This is a highly distressing time for them and for his friends and his colleagues. We repeat our call for his immediate release." |
| Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat again called for the unconditional and immediate release of Mr Johnston and said that all Palestinians stood behind him. | Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat again called for the unconditional and immediate release of Mr Johnston and said that all Palestinians stood behind him. |
| "There is not a house in Gaza that does not have a picture of Alan Johnston," he said. | "There is not a house in Gaza that does not have a picture of Alan Johnston," he said. |
| Mr Johnston was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza and his abduction has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world. | Mr Johnston was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza and his abduction has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world. |
| More than 130,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for his release. | More than 130,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for his release. |