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Fears for BBC Gaza correspondent | Fears for BBC Gaza correspondent |
(20 minutes later) | |
The BBC says it is concerned for the safety of a correspondent who has gone missing in the Gaza Strip. | The BBC says it is concerned for the safety of a correspondent who has gone missing in the Gaza Strip. |
The corporation said it had been unable to contact Alan Johnston, but did not comment on Palestinian reports that he had been kidnapped. | The corporation said it had been unable to contact Alan Johnston, but did not comment on Palestinian reports that he had been kidnapped. |
Johnston's car was found abandoned in Gaza City shortly after he left his office to drive home. | Johnston's car was found abandoned in Gaza City shortly after he left his office to drive home. |
Several journalists and aid workers have recently been kidnapped in Gaza. All have been released unharmed. | Several journalists and aid workers have recently been kidnapped in Gaza. All have been released unharmed. |
Johnston, 44, has been the BBC's correspondent in the Gaza Strip for the past three years - and the only foreign journalist from a major media organisation based in Gaza. | Johnston, 44, has been the BBC's correspondent in the Gaza Strip for the past three years - and the only foreign journalist from a major media organisation based in Gaza. |
"We are currently unable to contact him and are concerned for his safety," the BBC said in a statement. | "We are currently unable to contact him and are concerned for his safety," the BBC said in a statement. |
"We are trying to gather as much information as possible." | "We are trying to gather as much information as possible." |
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says all the main Palestinian militant groups have called for Johnston's release. | The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says all the main Palestinian militant groups have called for Johnston's release. |
'Experienced reporter' | 'Experienced reporter' |
Details of what happened are sketchy. Palestinian police said four gunmen were seen in the vicinity of where Johnston's car was found. | Details of what happened are sketchy. Palestinian police said four gunmen were seen in the vicinity of where Johnston's car was found. |
Palestinian Interior Minister Sayeed Sayyam said Johnston's disappearance was a "criminal act". | Palestinian Interior Minister Sayeed Sayyam said Johnston's disappearance was a "criminal act". |
ALAN GRAHAM JOHNSTON Born in Lindi, Tanzania, on 17 May 1962Graduated with an MA in English and Politics from Dundee University, Scotland, and a diploma in Journalism Studies from the University of Wales in CardiffJoined the BBC World Service in 1991. He has been a correspondent in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Gaza class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6443667.stm">Living with risk in Gaza | |
Palestinian security forces have set up checkpoints around Gaza and are searching for the correspondent. | Palestinian security forces have set up checkpoints around Gaza and are searching for the correspondent. |
The BBC described Johnston as a "highly experienced and respected reporter". | The BBC described Johnston as a "highly experienced and respected reporter". |
"It is his job to bring us day after day reports of the Palestinian predicament in the Gaza Strip," said the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Paul Adams, himself a former Middle East reporter. | "It is his job to bring us day after day reports of the Palestinian predicament in the Gaza Strip," said the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Paul Adams, himself a former Middle East reporter. |
Alan Johnston was born in Tanzania and educated in Scotland. He joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the last 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. | Alan Johnston was born in Tanzania and educated in Scotland. He joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the last 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. |
He became Gaza correspondent in April 2004 and is in the last few weeks of his posting there. | He became Gaza correspondent in April 2004 and is in the last few weeks of his posting there. |