Australian-Media.com.au News

• Kidnapped BBC journalist to be 'released in hours'

  June 17 2007 9:16pm (UTC+8)  -  Article by Pun

  A Hamas official has said that BBC reporter Alan Johnston who was abducted by gunman in Gaza three months ago, will be released within hours. On June 1st, Johnston appeared in an internet video claiming he'd been treated well by his captors, and appeared to be in good health.
  
  The statement issued by Abu Osameh al-Mo'ti, representative of the Palestinian Islamist group in Iran, had came after the Hamas group seized control of the Gaza strip.
  
  But a Hamas official in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, was more cautious about Mr Johnston being freed, saying that it could not be predicted within terms of hours.
  
  Abu Osameh al-Mo'ti said negotiations had been held with those holding Mr Johnston, but didn't say how he knew when he'd be freed.
  
  "The BBC journalist will be released within the next hours, today,
  
  "We are negotiating to solve the issue peacefully," he said. "We asked them to release him without any conditions."
  
  A BBC spokesman in London declined to comment.
  
  Australian-Media.com.au