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United Press Internationa · Guest

GAZA, April 30 (UPI) -- Members of the European Parliament
have been assured by Palestinian leaders that missing BBC
correspondent Alan Johnston remains alive.
Twelve members of the EP heard that from Palestinian Deputy
Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahmad at a meeting in the West Bank city of
Ramallah, the BBC reported Monday.
Johnston was kidnapped in Gaza City on March 12 and has not
been seen publicly since. The delegation was told that Palestinian
officials are working to secure Johnston's release.
"It seems to be a very high political priority for them,"
said Caroline Lucas, a British member of the EP. "I think they
recognize, as we all do, that it's doing the Palestinian Authority
absolutely no good at all to have Alan Johnston still in captivity."
Vigils for Johnston are scheduled this week in London,
Bangkok, Beijing and Jakarta. Johnston had lived and worked in Gaza
for three years and was the only Western reporter permanently based
there. A BBC News Web site petition now lists more than 61,000 names
in support of his release.