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BBC's man missing for four weeks BBC's man missing for four weeks
(about 7 hours later)
Colleagues of the missing BBC reporter Alan Johnston are set to gather in London in a show of support, four weeks after he disappeared in the Gaza Strip. Colleagues of the missing BBC reporter Alan Johnston have gathered in London in a show of support, four weeks after he disappeared in the Gaza Strip.
It is feared he has been abducted, but there has been no word on who might be holding him or where.It is feared he has been abducted, but there has been no word on who might be holding him or where.
On Sunday, one of the most senior clerics in the Anglican church, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, demanded his immediate release. BBC executives renewed their appeals for Mr Johnston to be released.
In a plea to the kidnappers Dr Sentamu said Alan Johnston was not their enemy. On Sunday, one of the most senior clerics in the Anglican church, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, demanded he be set free immediately.
Alan Johnston was last seen in Gaza on 12 March and is believed kidnapped, but no group has claimed to be holding him.
Health fears
Speaking on BBC radio, the corporation's head of newsgathering, Fran Unsworth, voiced fears for Mr Johnston's well-being after four weeks in presumed captivity.
He is incarcerated, and what that must be doing to his mental state and his general health, we have no idea Fran UnsworthBBC head of newsgathering Thousands sign BBC petition She has spent the past two weeks in Gaza liaising with officials, and said the local politicians were doing what they could.
"The longer it goes on the more concerned that we become," she said.
"He is incarcerated, and what that must be doing to his mental state and his general health, we have no idea."
In his Easter Sunday plea to the kidnappers, Dr Sentamu said Alan Johnston was not their enemy.
He said Mr Johnston had to be released as a way of ensuring press freedom in the future.He said Mr Johnston had to be released as a way of ensuring press freedom in the future.
"He is a symbol of ensuring the freedom of the press is not violated, an issue Palestinian journalists indeed are familiar with after facing routine attacks, harassment and arrests."He is a symbol of ensuring the freedom of the press is not violated, an issue Palestinian journalists indeed are familiar with after facing routine attacks, harassment and arrests.
"And for Alan Johnston, my prayer is that he will be released. After all, he was trying to get the story out.""And for Alan Johnston, my prayer is that he will be released. After all, he was trying to get the story out."
Alan Johnston was last seen in Gaza on 12 March and is believed kidnapped, but no group has claimed to be holding him.
Cabinet 'determined'Cabinet 'determined'
There have been a number of rallies calling for Mr Johnston's release in towns across the Palestinian territories.There have been a number of rallies calling for Mr Johnston's release in towns across the Palestinian territories.
href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6524879.stm">Thousands sign BBC petition class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6518873.stm">Timeline of events Timeline of events
Saturday's rallies in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and Gaza City were the latest in almost daily protests calling for Mr Johnston's release and urging the Palestinian authorities to do more to find him.Saturday's rallies in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and Gaza City were the latest in almost daily protests calling for Mr Johnston's release and urging the Palestinian authorities to do more to find him.
Senior members of the Palestinian government have repeated their insistence that they're doing all they can to locate and free the BBC reporter.Senior members of the Palestinian government have repeated their insistence that they're doing all they can to locate and free the BBC reporter.
They have ordered security services and the interior ministry to take "all necessary measures" to secure his release.They have ordered security services and the interior ministry to take "all necessary measures" to secure his release.
The BBC has received thousands of messages of the support from users of the News website demanding the release of Alan Johnston. The BBC News website has received thousands of messages of support from readers demanding the release of Alan Johnston.
It describes Mr Johnston as a highly experienced and respected reporter. The BBC describes Mr Johnston 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.