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| Day of action for Gaza reporter | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An international day of action is taking place to highlight the plight of BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who is thought to have been abducted in Gaza. | An international day of action is taking place to highlight the plight of BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who is thought to have been abducted in Gaza. |
| For the first time, some of the world's major news broadcasters will televise a special live programme simultaneously, paying tribute to Mr Johnston's work. | For the first time, some of the world's major news broadcasters will televise a special live programme simultaneously, paying tribute to Mr Johnston's work. |
| It will be presented by the BBC from the West Bank town of Ramallah, with input by Sky News, CNN and al-Jazeera. | It will be presented by the BBC from the West Bank town of Ramallah, with input by Sky News, CNN and al-Jazeera. |
| BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is making a direct appeal for his release. | BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is making a direct appeal for his release. |
| Without news reporters the world is ignorant to what is going on in it, be it good or bad Justin Holden, Burlington, USABBC News website reader Send a message of support | Without news reporters the world is ignorant to what is going on in it, be it good or bad Justin Holden, Burlington, USABBC News website reader Send a message of support |
| Mr Johnston's family are also expected to address a news conference. A poster campaign is being unveiled at prominent sites in London and his native Scotland. | Mr Johnston's family are also expected to address a news conference. A poster campaign is being unveiled at prominent sites in London and his native Scotland. |
| The day of international action comes one calendar month after Mr Johnston went missing on his way home from work on 12 March. | The day of international action comes one calendar month after Mr Johnston went missing on his way home from work on 12 March. |
| Broadcasters unite | Broadcasters unite |
| "Alan is the BBC's highly experienced and respected correspondent and one of only a few Western journalists who have been permanently based in Gaza," a BBC statement says. | "Alan is the BBC's highly experienced and respected correspondent and one of only a few Western journalists who have been permanently based in Gaza," a BBC statement says. |
| "He has spent three years living and working in the area." | "He has spent three years living and working in the area." |
| DAY'S EVENTS (TIMES GMT) 0800: Rally, Gaza City0805: BBC director general press conference, Ramallah, West Bank1000: News conference including statement form Johnston's family, London1330: Simulcast by BBC, al-Jazeera and Sky1400: Main rally in Ramallah | |
| A simulcast programme will go on air from Ramallah at 1430 BST (1330 GMT) anchored by Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's Middle East Editor. It will include live reports from al-Jazeera, CNN, and Sky. | |
| Richard Porter, head of news for BBC World, said: "We wanted to produce a programme which had impact in the Middle East and around the globe and we are extremely grateful for all the co-operation shown by our fellow broadcasters. | Richard Porter, head of news for BBC World, said: "We wanted to produce a programme which had impact in the Middle East and around the globe and we are extremely grateful for all the co-operation shown by our fellow broadcasters. |
| "We don't think this has ever happened before - but all the broadcasters involved share a common aim to highlight Alan's case and to remind viewers of the dangers faced by their news teams more frequently than ever." | "We don't think this has ever happened before - but all the broadcasters involved share a common aim to highlight Alan's case and to remind viewers of the dangers faced by their news teams more frequently than ever." |
| The Palestinian government has said it is "deeply sorry" Mr Johnston is still being held. | The Palestinian government has said it is "deeply sorry" Mr Johnston is still being held. |
| On Tuesday, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said the government was making every effort it could to secure Mr Johnston's release. | On Tuesday, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said the government was making every effort it could to secure Mr Johnston's release. |