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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK meets Hamas PM over reporter | UK meets Hamas PM over reporter |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A UK diplomat is meeting the Palestinian prime minister - a member of the militant Hamas movement - for talks on a missing BBC journalist. | A UK diplomat is meeting the Palestinian prime minister - a member of the militant Hamas movement - for talks on a missing BBC journalist. |
| It is the UK's first meeting with Ismail Haniya. The government normally boycotts Hamas as a terrorist group. | It is the UK's first meeting with Ismail Haniya. The government normally boycotts Hamas as a terrorist group. |
| Alan Johnston went missing on 12 March and is believed to have been kidnapped. | Alan Johnston went missing on 12 March and is believed to have been kidnapped. |
| "This meeting is strictly for humanitarian reasons," said the office of Richard Makepeace, UK consul-general in Jerusalem, before his Gaza talks. | "This meeting is strictly for humanitarian reasons," said the office of Richard Makepeace, UK consul-general in Jerusalem, before his Gaza talks. |
| Mr Johnston, the only international correspondent based in Gaza, has been held captive longer than any other journalist there. | |
| Britain and the EU have refused to meet Hamas members of the new Palestinian national unity government over the Islamic group's refusal to recognise Israel's right to exist and to renounce violence. | Britain and the EU have refused to meet Hamas members of the new Palestinian national unity government over the Islamic group's refusal to recognise Israel's right to exist and to renounce violence. |
| Western diplomats quoted by Reuters said there had been a general understanding since Hamas came to power in March 2006 that their boycott could be relaxed in emergencies such as kidnappings. | Western diplomats quoted by Reuters said there had been a general understanding since Hamas came to power in March 2006 that their boycott could be relaxed in emergencies such as kidnappings. |
| Strong backing | Strong backing |
| The BBC has received thousands of messages of the support from users of the New website demanding the release of Alan Johnston, with names being added to an online petition all the time. | The BBC has received thousands of messages of the support from users of the New website demanding the release of Alan Johnston, with names being added to an online petition all the time. |
| Add your name to petition Palestinian journalists have also given strong backing for a campaign against perceived inaction by the government in Gaza to secure Mr Johnston's release. | Add your name to petition Palestinian journalists have also given strong backing for a campaign against perceived inaction by the government in Gaza to secure Mr Johnston's release. |
| BBC representatives have already appealed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Mr Haniya. | BBC representatives have already appealed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Mr Haniya. |
| Both have said everything possible is being done to free Mr Johnston. | Both have said everything possible is being done to free Mr Johnston. |
| The BBC describes him as a highly experienced and respected reporter. | The BBC describes him as a highly experienced and respected reporter. |
| 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 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. |