Palestinian minister says abducted BBC journalist still in 'good health'

Tuesday April 24, 2007 18:39 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies

BBC journalist Alan Johnston, kidnapped in the Gaza Strip more than a month ago, remains in good health according to Palestinian deputy prime minister Azzam Al-Ahmad on Tuesday.

Alan Johnston BBC reporter kidnapped in Gaza (File)

BBC journalist Alan Johnston, kidnapped in the Gaza Strip more than a month ago, remains in good health according to Palestinian deputy prime minister Azzam Al-Ahmad on Tuesday.

Sources at al-Ahmad’s office said that in a meeting that joined him with UK’s consul general to Jerusalem, Richard Makepeace, the deputy PM said that "information we have indicates that Alan Johnston is in good health. Efforts to secure the British journalist's release are continuous", he added.

Johnston was kidnapped on March 12th in the Gaza Strip and was taken hostage. Some Palestinian Authority sources believe he was being held captive by a Palestinian family whose demands are personal, rather than political.

Last week, a previously unknown group called itself 'Al-Tawheed wal Jihad' declared in a press release sent by e-mail to media outlets, that they had executed Johnston and said that they will soon release a video proving their claim.

Palestinian journalists have held several protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip demanding the release of Johnston, and protesting against the Palestinian Authority’s inability to provide information that could lead to Johnston's release.

jerusalem | internal unrest | news report george at imemc dot org