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BBC's Gaza correspondent released BBC's Gaza correspondent released
(40 minutes 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". TV footage showed Mr Johnston, 45, leaving a building accompanied by armed men.He said it was "fantastic" to be free after an "appalling experience". TV footage showed Mr Johnston, 45, leaving a building accompanied by armed men.
During his time as a hostage, three videos were released featuring images of Mr Johnston or of his belongings. He was received by Ismail Haniya, a Hamas leader in Gaza. The group had vowed to spare no effort to free him.
Calls were made for his release in rallies worldwide and in an online petition 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 journalist was handed over to officials of the Hamas administration in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of the Hamas administration in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Gunmen from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement overran Gaza last month, expelling their rivals from the Fatah faction.Gunmen from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement overran Gaza last month, expelling their rivals from the Fatah faction.
I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room Alan JohnstonI literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room Alan Johnston
Hamas' military wing had said it would spare no effort to secure the BBC reporter's release. Mr Johnston was abducted on 12 March by the Army of Islam, a shadowy militant group dominated by Gaza's powerful Dugmush clan.
A previously little-known militant group, the Army of Islam, claimed it was holding Mr Johnston and had released videos demanding the release of Muslim prisoners in British custody. The group released three videos, two of which featured footage of the kidnapped correspondent.
The group had said it would kill its captive if its demands were not met. It said it would kill its captive if its demands for the release of Muslim prisoners in British custody were not met.
'Dreamt of freedom''Dreamt of freedom'
Speaking over the telephone from the house of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, Mr Johnston thanked everyone who had worked towards his release.Speaking over the telephone from the house of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, Mr Johnston thanked everyone who had worked towards his release.
"It is the most fantastic thing to be free," he said."It is the most fantastic thing to be free," he said.
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.
"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."
He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family in Scotland. He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family in Scotland, expressing sorrow that his "actions" had upset their lives.
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.