Business

AP / MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH, · Guest

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas says he has credible evidence that a British Broadcasting
Corp. journalist kidnapped a month ago in the Gaza Strip was safe
and well, the BBC's top executive said Thursday.
Alan Johnston was abducted at gunpoint in Gaza City on March
12. There has been no sign of life from him since, and no word from
his captors. No other foreigner has been held in Gaza as long.
BBC director general Mark Thompson appealed for Johnston's
release at a news conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah. He
said he had met with Abbas on Wednesday and discussed the case.
"He told me that he had credible evidence that Alan was safe
and well," Thompson said.
Thompson's appeal was part of a daylong calendar of
international events meant to dramatize the 44-year-old journalist's
plight, including a statement from his parents at a London news
conference and an unprecedented joint broadcast by the BBC, Sky and
Al-Jazeera.
"You have families. Please think about what this is doing to
my family, including in particular the distress and deep, deep
concern Alan's mother and sister have had to endure for all these
long weeks," Johnston's father, Graham Johnston, said in a message
to his son's abductors.
"As I have said before, please let my son go. Now. Today!"
The joint broadcast, anchored by the BBC in Ramallah, and
reported by Sky, BBC, Al-Jazeera and CNN, featured stories about
Johnston's life and the dangers journalists covering Gaza face. It
also highlighted efforts by the British government, Gaza journalists
and others to secure Johnston's release.
Thompson said there have been no contacts with Johnston's
captors, and no demands from them.
"It is vital for all journalists to be able to report freely
and without fear of harassment and intimidation," he told the news
conference in Ramallah.
"I appeal to all those who may have influence with the
kidnappers to use their best endeavors to secure Alan's release,
safely and speedily, and to ensure his return to his family and
friends as quickly as possible," he said.
Abbas confidant Saeb Erekat said the president "has been
reassured by many sources that Mr. Johnston is alive." Abbas is
doing his best to obtain Johnston's release, he added.
"I feel ashamed of this despicable act," he told Sky News.
"We condemn it with the strongest possible terms."
Thompson said he did not know why the case was taking so
long to resolve. More than a dozen foreign journalists and aid
workers have been abducted by Gaza gunmen in the past 18 months,
often in a bid to wrest money or jobs. Most have been released
unharmed within hours or days.
The one exception was the abduction of two Fox News
employees in August, which lasted two weeks before they were freed
unharmed.
In Gaza, about 200 Palestinian journalists, some carrying
posters that said "Free Alan," held a rally simultaneously with the
news conference.
"We are disappointed by presidential and governmental
foot-dragging on the release of our kidnapped colleague, said Sakher
Abu-Owan, a Palestinian journalist. "Our concern over Alan's safety
is growing every day."
The journalists then drove through the streets of Gaza City
in cars plastered with posters of Johnston.