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UK checking Hamas Johnston report 'Kidnappers' deny Johnston deal
(about 4 hours later)
The UK Foreign Office says it is looking into reports that the kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, may be released on Sunday. The alleged kidnappers of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston have denied that they have reached a deal announced by Hamas for his imminent release.
The reports came from a Hamas spokesman in Teheran, who said Mr Johnston could be released in the next few hours. In a video shown on al-Jazeera TV, a masked man said to be from the Army of Islam said there were "developments" in meetings with Hamas.
The BBC's David Loyn says nothing seems to have changed since Friday, when Hamas said it was taking serious and practical steps to secure the release. But he maintained that the reporter could still be killed if their demands were not met.
The BBC said it was aware of the video and was watching developments closely.
Mr Johnston, 45, was abducted on 12 March in Gaza City on his way home.Mr Johnston, 45, was abducted on 12 March in Gaza City on his way home.
Palestinian militants purportedly belonging to a group called the Army of Islam posted a video on the internet on 1 June showing the first pictures of the reporter, in which he said he was being well treated. Militants purportedly belonging to the Army of Islam posted a video on the internet on 1 June showing the first pictures of the reporter, in which he said he was being well treated.
Mr Johnston was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza and his abduction has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world.Mr Johnston was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza and his abduction has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world.
More than 160,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for his release.More than 160,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for his release.
Pre-conditions 'Security concerns'
Speaking at a news conference in the Iranian capital, Hamas's representative said Mr Johnston would be released soon. In the video shown on 17 June, the masked spokesman repeated demands for the release of Islamist prisoners, in particular Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada, who is detained in the UK.
The BBC journalist will be released within the next hours Hamas representative Abu Osama al-Mouti "There are developments and we will let you know when there are new developments," he said.
"The BBC journalist will be released within the next hours, today," Abu Osama al-Mouti said. "...If they do not meet these demands there will be no release of this prisoner, but if things get worse we will get closer to God by killing this journalist."
Mr Mouti said the group holding Mr Johnston had certain pre-conditions for his release, but that Hamas was trying to secure his freedom without meeting their demands. The video was shown hours after a Hamas representative said Mr Johnston would be released soon.
Speaking at a news conference in the Iranian capital, Osama al-Mouti said Hamas was trying to secure his freedom without meeting the group's demands.
He said if Mr Johnston was not freed soon, it would only be because of concerns for his security.He said if Mr Johnston was not freed soon, it would only be because of concerns for his security.
A spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the Islamist group could confirm there were "intensive efforts to end the crisis of the abduction".
"There are encouraging indicators that he will be released in the near future, but we cannot determine this in terms of hours," he told Reuters.
On Friday, Hamas said it would no longer allow the journalist to be held captive and that it was in contact with Mr Johnston's abductors.On Friday, Hamas said it would no longer allow the journalist to be held captive and that it was in contact with Mr Johnston's abductors.