Leaders at Arab League summit urged to issue call for BBC correspondent's release

As BBC correspondent Alan Johnston's begins his third week in captivity in the Gaza Strip, Reporters Without Borders today urged leaders attending an Arab League summit on 28-29 March in Saudi Arabia to issue a joint appeal for his release. “An appeal issued in Riyadh by all the Arab heads of state could make a major contribution to the resolution of this hostage situation,” the press freedom organisation said. “We are getting more and more concerned about Johnston. There has been no news about him for two weeks. None of the journalists kidnapped in the Gaza Strip since 2005 has been held for such a long time.” Reporters Without Borders added: “If it is true that the Palestinian authorities know the identify of his kidnappers, as many local sources claim, we call on them to conduct negotiations as quickly as possible so that Johnston can be reunited with his family. His abductors have not made their demands public.” Palestinian journalists staged another demonstration yesterday at the Unknown Soldier Square in Gaza City in protest against the British journalist's abduction. A large photo of Johnston has been put on display in the city centre. A total of 14 foreign journalists have been kidnapped in the Gaza Strip since August 2005. Most of them were quickly released unhurt. In one case, two US journalists were held for 14 days. Their abduction was claimed by the hitherto unknown Holy Jihad Brigades, which for a while was demanding the release within 72 hours of all Muslims held by the United States. During a fact-finding visit in December, Reporters Without Borders was told by many observers that the two Americans were held longer than other hostages because of their nationality. Nonetheless, the kidnappers appear not to have been motivated by any political considerations in the other 12 cases.