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| BBC's Johnston describes relief | BBC's Johnston describes relief |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| BBC reporter Alan Johnston has said it is "just unimaginably good to be free" after 114 days in captivity in Gaza. | BBC reporter Alan Johnston has said it is "just unimaginably good to be free" after 114 days in captivity in Gaza. |
| He said his ordeal felt like being "buried alive", and was "sometimes quite terrifying". | He said his ordeal felt like being "buried alive", and was "sometimes quite terrifying". |
| Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza City. Britain said the group had played a key role in his release. | Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza City. Britain said the group had played a key role in his release. |
| The reporter said he had not been tortured by the Army of Islam group which seized him on 12 March. | The reporter said he had not been tortured by the Army of Islam group which seized him on 12 March. |
| Several hours later he appeared live on TV, thanking BBC colleagues and others who had supported him throughout his time in captivity. | Several hours later he appeared live on TV, thanking BBC colleagues and others who had supported him throughout his time in captivity. |
| He vowed to return to "obscurity" and said he would try to "stay out of trouble" in future. | He vowed to return to "obscurity" and said he would try to "stay out of trouble" in future. |
| I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room Alan Johnston Hamas role in release Johnston describes ordeal href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6270282.stm">Chain of events | |
| He said he found the experience frightening "because I didn't know how it was going to end," but said he never considered escape as a real possibility. | He said he found the experience frightening "because I didn't know how it was going to end," but said he never considered escape as a real possibility. |
| Mr Johnston was speaking from the British Consulate in Jerusalem, where he is recovering before flying back to the UK. | Mr Johnston was speaking from the British Consulate in Jerusalem, where he is recovering before flying back to the UK. |
| His parents visited BBC World Service offices on Wednesday. | His parents visited BBC World Service offices on Wednesday. |
| His father Graham said he and his wife were "overjoyed" at their son's release. | His 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. | "It's been 114 days of a living nightmare," he said. |
| Gordon Brown, in his first prime minister's questions session in the UK parliament, said: "The whole country will welcome the news that Alan Johnston, a fearless journalist whose voice was silenced for too long, is now free." | Gordon Brown, in his first prime minister's questions session in the UK parliament, said: "The whole country will welcome the news that Alan Johnston, a fearless journalist whose voice was silenced for too long, is now free." |
| Mr Brown acknowledged the "crucial" role played by Hamas in securing Mr Johnston's release. | Mr Brown acknowledged the "crucial" role played by Hamas in securing Mr Johnston's release. |
| But a spokesman for Mr Brown said Britain's policy towards Hamas had not changed, and the movement was still expected to recognise Israel and show a commitment to non-violence. | But a spokesman for Mr Brown said Britain's policy towards Hamas had not changed, and the movement was still expected to recognise Israel and show a commitment to non-violence. |
| New haircut | New haircut |
| Mr Johnston said he was aware of efforts to free him because he had constant access to the BBC World Service on the radio. | Mr Johnston said he was aware of efforts to free him because he had constant access to the BBC World Service on the radio. |
| Alan Johnston profile In pictures: release BBC statement in full Joy in Jerusalem | Alan Johnston profile In pictures: release BBC statement in full Joy in Jerusalem |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| He thanked colleagues, international media and ordinary people for organising "the most extraordinary international campaign" for his release. | He thanked colleagues, international media and ordinary people for organising "the most extraordinary international campaign" for his release. |
| "The thing you don't want is to be left behind, buried alive, and have the world go on around you," he said. | "The thing you don't want is to be left behind, buried alive, and have the world go on around you," he said. |
| He appeared with a cleanly-shaven head, saying one of his first acts after his release was "going to the barbers and getting rid of that just-kidnapped look". | He appeared with a cleanly-shaven head, saying one of his first acts after his release was "going to the barbers and getting rid of that just-kidnapped look". |
| Hamas role | Hamas role |
| 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". | 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". |
| THE EDITORS' BLOG From all at the BBC - to all who helped secure Alan's freedom - thank you Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full | THE EDITORS' BLOG From all at the BBC - to all who helped secure Alan's freedom - thank you Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full |
| He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family, expressing sorrow that his "actions" had brought turmoil to their lives. | He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family, expressing sorrow that his "actions" had brought turmoil to their lives. |
| The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of Hamas, which controls Gaza, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. | The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of Hamas, which controls Gaza, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. |
| He later appeared beside Ismail Haniya, a Hamas leader in Gaza. | |
| 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 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| He also said he hoped a deal could now be reached for the release of the Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since being seized in a border raid by three militant groups a year ago. | He also said he hoped a deal could now be reached for the release of the Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since being seized in a border raid by three militant groups a year ago. |
| 'Dream of freedom' | 'Dream of freedom' |
| Mr Johnston said during his captivity "it became quite hard to imagine normal life again". | Mr Johnston said during his captivity "it became quite hard to imagine normal life again". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I was so happy when I heard this news this morning, I am over the moon too for Alan and his whole family Amanda, Glasgow Send us your comments Reactions in quotes | HAVE YOUR SAY I was so happy when I heard this news this morning, I am over the moon too for Alan and his whole family Amanda, Glasgow Send us your comments Reactions in quotes |
| "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 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. |
| Mr Johnston was kept in chains for 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity, when his captors roughed him up "a bit". | Mr Johnston was kept in chains for 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity, when his captors roughed him up "a bit". |