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BBC's Gaza correspondent released BBC's Gaza correspondent released
(about 1 hour later)
BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in Gaza after nearly four months in captivity.BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in Gaza after nearly four months in captivity.
He said it was "fantastic" to be free after an "appalling experience". Mr Johnston, 45, was seen leaving a Gaza City building accompanied by armed men.He said it was "fantastic" to be free after an "appalling experience". Mr Johnston, 45, was seen leaving a Gaza City building accompanied by armed men.
He said he had been unable to see the sun for three months, and was once chained for 24 hours.He said he had been unable to see the sun for three months, and was once chained for 24 hours.
Rallies worldwide had called for Mr Johnston's release. An online petition was signed by some 200,000 people.Rallies worldwide had called for Mr Johnston's release. An online petition was signed by some 200,000 people.
The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of the Hamas administration in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Mr Johnston's father Graham said he and his wife were "overjoyed" at their son's release.
"It's been 114 days of a living nightmare," he said.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also expressed his joy at Mr Johnston's release.
The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He later appeared beside Hamas leader Ismail Haniya and thanked everyone who had worked for his release.He later appeared beside Hamas leader Ismail Haniya and thanked everyone who had worked for his release.
I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room Alan Johnston class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6268028.stm">Alan Johnstone profile class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6268078.stm">In pictures: release class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6268102.stm">Johnston describes ordeal Hamas gunmen overran Gaza last month, expelling their rivals from the Fatah faction and prompting its leader, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, to sack Mr Haniya as prime minister.
Hamas' military wing had said it would actively work towards securing Mr Johnston's release, warning his kidnappers it was prepared to use force. Mr Haniya said the result "confirms [Hamas] is serious in imposing security and stability and maintaining law and order in this very dear part of our homeland".
Gunmen from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement overran Gaza last month, expelling their rivals from the Fatah faction.
Fatah's defeat in Gaza prompted its leader, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, to sack Mr Haniya as prime minister.
Security push
Mr Johnston was abducted on 12 March by the Army of Islam, a shadowy militant group dominated by Gaza's powerful Dugmush clan.
Mr Johnston appeared in a video, apparently in an explosive vestThe group released three videos, two of which featured footage of the kidnapped correspondent.
It said it would kill its captive if its demands for the release of Muslim prisoners in British custody were not met.
A senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Zahar, said no deal was done with the kidnappers to secure Mr Johnston's release.
He added that Hamas did not work towards the release "to receive favours from the British government".
"We did this because of humanitarian concern, and to achieve a government aim to extend security to all without fear."
A Hamas leader living in exile in Syria, Khaled Meshaal, told the Reuters news agency Mr Johnston's release revealed the failings of the preceding Fatah administration.
"It showed the difference between the era in which a group used to encourage and commit security anarchy... and the current situation in which Hamas is seeking to stabilise security," Mr Meshaal was quoted as saying.
'Dreamt of freedom''Dreamt of freedom'
Appearing at a press conference alongside Hamas leader Haniya, Mr Johnston thanked everyone who had worked towards his release. At the news conference, Mr Johnston thanked everyone who had worked towards his release.
href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6268062.stm">BBC statement in full href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6267988.stm">Reactions in quotes I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room Alan Johnston href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6268028.stm">Alan Johnston profile href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6268078.stm">In pictures: release class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6268102.stm">Johnston describes ordeal
He described his experience of captivity as "appalling" and "occasionally quite terrifying".He described his experience of captivity as "appalling" and "occasionally quite terrifying".
"It became quite hard to imagine normal life again," he said."It became quite hard to imagine normal life again," he said.
"The last 16 weeks have been the very worst of my life," he added. "I was in the hands of people who were dangerous and unpredictable.""The last 16 weeks have been the very worst of my life," he added. "I was in the hands of people who were dangerous and unpredictable."
"I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room.""I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room."
Mr Johnston said he was not tortured during captivity but he did fall ill from the food he was served.Mr Johnston said he was not tortured during captivity but he did fall ill from the food he was served.
He added that he had been kept in four different locations, two of them only briefly.
He was able to see the sun in the first month but was then kept in a shuttered room until a week before his release, he said.He was able to see the sun in the first month but was then kept in a shuttered room until a week before his release, he said.
He was kept in chains for 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity, when his captors hit him "a bit".He was kept in chains for 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity, when his captors hit him "a bit".
He said Hamas' seizure of power in Gaza and its subsequent pledge to improve security in the territory had facilitated his release. class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6268062.stm">BBC statement in full class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6267988.stm">Reactions in quotes
Mr Johnston said Hamas's seizure of power in Gaza and its subsequent pledge to improve security in the territory had facilitated his release.
"The kidnappers seemed very comfortable and very secure in their operation until... a few weeks ago, when Hamas took charge of the security operation here," he said."The kidnappers seemed very comfortable and very secure in their operation until... a few weeks ago, when Hamas took charge of the security operation here," he said.
The journalist said he was moved twice during his spell in captivity. He said that he was told he was going home on Tuesday night.
"I thought at first 'They are moving me again', and I thought maybe they're handing me on to new kidnappers but then as we got deeper and deeper into Gaza City, I really began at last to believe that maybe we were finishing it," he said.
Radio contactRadio contact
Having worked in Gaza for the past three years, Mr Johnston said he was well aware of Palestinian traditions of hospitality and regarded his abductors as an "aberration". Mr Johnston was abducted on 12 March by the Army of Islam, a shadowy militant group dominated by Gaza's powerful Dugmush clan.
The group released three videos, two of which featured footage of the kidnapped correspondent.
Palestinian reporters have led demands for Mr Johnston's releasePalestinian reporters have led demands for Mr Johnston's release
It said it would kill its captive if its demands for the release of Muslim prisoners in British custody were not met.
But Mr Johnston said his abductors had also offered him freedom in exchange for making one of the videos, admitting that some of the things he had been forced to say were factually incorrect.
Having worked in Gaza for the past three years, Mr Johnston said he was well aware of Palestinian traditions of hospitality and regarded his abductors as an "aberration".
He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family in Scotland, expressing sorrow that his "actions" had brought turmoil to their lives.He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family in Scotland, expressing sorrow that his "actions" had brought turmoil to their lives.
He had a brief conversation with his father over the telephone after being released.He had a brief conversation with his father over the telephone after being released.
Mr Johnston said he stayed aware of efforts to free him by listening to the BBC World Service on the radio.Mr Johnston said he stayed aware of efforts to free him by listening to the BBC World Service on the radio.
News of global demonstrations in his support was a source of comfort to him, he said.News of global demonstrations in his support was a source of comfort to him, he said.
The BBC has issued a statement expressing relief and delight at its employee's release.The BBC has issued a statement expressing relief and delight at its employee's release.
Mr Johnston left the Gaza Strip later on Wednesday morning, entering Israel via the Erez crossing.Mr Johnston left the Gaza Strip later on Wednesday morning, entering Israel via the Erez crossing.