Kidnapped Gaza reporter close to release?

Posted by Martin Stabe on 17 June 2007 at 10:45
Tags: Alan Johnston, BBC

Kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston could be freed soon — and possibly within hours — according to reports this morning.

The Press Association is quoting Islam Shahwan, spokesman for the Hamas militia in Gaza, as saying: “All I can say is that Alan will be free very soon.”

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, downplayed hopes for his quick release, however: “there is nothing new yet regarding Alan.”

The Telegraph, meanwhile, reports that Abu Osameh al-Mo’ti, a Hamas representativein Tehran, had confirmed that negotiations with the captors were “close to a successful conclusion despite the turbulent political situation in the territory”.

Johnston has been held by militants in Gaza since March. He was seen for the first since his abduction two weeks ago, when a video of him was posted on a website used by a group calling itself the Army of Islam Hamas officials say they made contact with the kidnappers after taking control of the Gaza Strip last week.

Update 11.30am: Reuters has the same report. The BBC itself is reporting that the Foreign Office is looking into the reports, and that its own David Loyn “says nothing seems to have changed since Friday, when Hamas said it was taking serious and practical steps to secure the release”.

Tags: Alan Johnston, BBC