Thursday, May 10, 2007

Group says it's holding BBC's Mideast reporter

Alan Johnston disappeared in Gaza 8 weeks ago; statement not confirmed

May 8, 2007

DUBAI - A little-known Islamist group said it was holding the BBC's Middle East correspondent Alan Johnston who disappeared eight weeks ago, according to an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

"We demand that Britain free our prisoners, particularly the honorable Sheikh Abu Qatada al Filistini," said a speaker on the tape from the Jaysh al Islam (Army of Islam) group. The authenticity of the tape could not immediately be verified.

The recording was posted on an Islamist Web site often used by al-Qaida and other militant groups, and was accompanied by what appeared to be a picture of Johnston's BBC identification card.

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