Business

AP / STEVEN GUTKIN, Assoc · Guest

EREZ CROSSING, Israel (AP) -- Dozens of foreign and
Palestinian journalists held simultaneous demonstrations on both
sides of Israel's border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, calling
for the release of a British Broadcasting Corp. correspondent who
was kidnapped by Palestinian gunmen six weeks ago.
Alan Johnston, 44, a BBC correspondent, was abducted by
gunmen on March 12 and has not been seen or heard from since then.
"We have not forgotten his plight and we will not stop until
he is freed," said Simon McGregor-Wood, chairman of the Foreign
Press Association, reading a statement for the group. "There has
been precious little reliable information as to his well-being or
whereabouts."
The FPA, which organized Wednesday's demonstration,
represents some 500 journalists covering Israel and the Palestinian
territories for foreign media.
A previously unknown group, the Brigades of Tawheed and
Jihad, said on April 15 that it had killed Johnston to support
demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
There has been no confirmation of the claim, and Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas said he has information that Johnston is
still alive.
About 100 people attended the rally on the Israeli side of
the Erez border crossing, holding posters of Johnston and chanting,
"Free Alan."
"This is as far as many of us feel safe to go since Alan's
abduction," McGregor-Wood said.
Johnston's kidnapping was the latest in a string of
abductions of foreign journalists in the Gaza Strip in recent
months. But his captivity has stretched far longer than any of his
predecessors.
Jonathan Baker, the BBC's deputy head of newsgathering,
urged the captors to free Johnston. "His only offense was to expose
himself to personal danger because of a strong desire to bring the
story of Gaza to the outside world," he said. "He has suffered
enough. Let him go."
Some 50 Palestinian journalists held a similar demonstration
on other side of the border. Many participants also held banners
with Johnston's name on it.
"This is a joint effort ... to show solidarity on both sides
of the border in order to call on every individual involved to free
Alan," said Nidal al-Mugrabi, an activist in the Palestinian
journalists' union.
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AP reporter Diaa Hadid contributed to this article.