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Vigil for BBC captive's 100th day Vigil for BBC captive's 100th day
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of colleagues of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston have observed a vigil to mark 100 days since he was kidnapped. Thousands of colleagues of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston around the world have observed a vigil to mark 100 days since he was kidnapped.
At the Glastonbury festival, on sets and in newsrooms worldwide, they paused at 1315 GMT (1415 UK time). BBC staff in newsrooms and at the Glastonbury festival, and even those reporting live on TV, stopped what they were doing for a moment of silence.
Mr Johnston's parents released 100 balloons marking the days passed since a group calling itself the Army of Islam abducted the reporter. In Scotland, Mr Johnston's parents released 100 balloons to mark the days passed since his abduction.
On Monday a deadline for his release, set by Hamas, passed without progress. The Palestinian group Hamas says it is working to secure his release.
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 politicians and rights groups around the world.
Several foreigners have been seized in Gaza in recent years and all have been released unharmed, but none has been held as long as the BBC reporter. Several foreigners have been seized in the troubled Palestinian territory in recent years and all have been released unharmed, but none has been held as long as the BBC reporter.
'Soap opera pause''Soap opera pause'
BBC staff around the world stopped for one minute to think of Mr Johnston. BBC staff around the world paused at 1315 GMT (1415 UK time) - the moment Mr Johnston was believed to have been seized in Gaza 100 days ago - to think of their colleague.
Alan on the art of journalism The BBC Trust, led by the chairman Sir Michael Lyons, planned to break from its meeting to take part in an event at Broadcasting House in central London. Alan on the art of journalism
Colleagues on the set of soap opera EastEnders and those working at the Glastonbury festival in Somerset were also among those participating. The BBC Trust, led by the chairman Sir Michael Lyons, planned to break from its meeting to take part in an event at Broadcasting House in central London.
Many members of staff held pictures of the reporter during the "pause". Colleagues on the set of soap opera EastEnders, and those working at the Glastonbury festival in Somerset, were also among those participating.
BBC News 24 and BBC World carried live pictures of the event, which was covered on the BBC World Service and the BBC's interactive services. Many members of staff held pictures of the reporter during the two-minute silence.
THE EDITORS' BLOG Alan's friends will hold up a picture of him to show solidarity. I invite you to join us Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2007/06/alans_100th_day.html">Jon's comments in full At the same time, at their home in Scotland, Mr Johnston's parents Graham and Margaret were joined by villagers to release 100 balloons.
On Friday, Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said it had set a deadline of Monday for the kidnappers to free Mr Johnston. BBC News 24 and BBC World TV channels carried live pictures of the event, which was covered on BBC World Service radio and the BBC's interactive services.
THE EDITORS' BLOG The last three months have been a dreadful time for his family and friends - but particularly for Alan Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full
On Friday, the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, was reported to have set a deadline of Monday for the kidnappers - a group calling itself the Army of Islam - to free Mr Johnston.
In a video released two days later, Mr Johnston's captors denied they had reached a deal with Hamas for his imminent release but acknowledged that there had been "developments" in meetings with Hamas.In a video released two days later, Mr Johnston's captors denied they had reached a deal with Hamas for his imminent release but acknowledged that there had been "developments" in meetings with Hamas.
But Monday's deadline passed without further progress.But Monday's deadline passed without further progress.
On Wednesday, a Hamas spokesman said: "Hamas wants to find the right mechanism to release him in order to protect his life. Ismail Haniya, leader of Hamas and the former Palestinian prime minister, said his group had not set Monday's deadline, "but the go-betweens gave their own estimates of this matter".
"To rush, would be wrong," Fawzi Barhum told AFP news agency. "But we are continuing [our efforts to free Alan Johnston]. I hope [his abduction] will end as soon as possible," he said.