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Hamas issues Johnston ultimatum Hamas issues Johnston ultimatum
(about 1 hour later)
The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has threatened to use force to release BBC reporter Alan Johnston by the end of Monday if he is not set free. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas says it has set a deadline of today, Monday, for the kidnappers of BBC reporter Alan Johnston to release him.
"Today is the last day for the captors to release Alan Johnston," a senior Hamas official said. A Hamas spokesman told the BBC that if Johnston was not freed, it would be the role of the Palestinian government to work for his safe release.
The reporter was abducted in March by a group calling itself The Army of Islam.The reporter was abducted in March by a group calling itself The Army of Islam.
On Friday, Hamas said that Johnston should be freed and that it was in contact with his abductors.
"Alan Johnston was discussed with the kidnappers," Mahmoud Zahhar, the former Palestinian foreign minister who is believed to be a leader of Hamas, told the BBC Arabic Service.
They have been given a deadline of today, Monday, to respond Mahmoud Zahhar, Hamas Timeline: Johnston missing
"They have been given a deadline of today, Monday, to respond. They will be contacted, they may have already been contacted, for his release. If he is not released then the role of the current government is to work for his release, safe and sound."
In a separate interview with Reuters news agency, Mr Zahhar said: "If he is not released, we would use all means to secure his life and to free him."
Hamas, which seized control of Gaza last week and was ousted from the Palestinian government, has said reporters should be treated as guests.Hamas, which seized control of Gaza last week and was ousted from the Palestinian government, has said reporters should be treated as guests.
We hope that they are not using this as some sort of publicity stunt UK Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells Timeline: Alan Johnston missing
"If he is not released, we would use all means to secure his life and to free him," a senior Hamas official told Reuters news agency.
The official who made the statement is thought to be Mahmoud Zahhar, the former Palestinian foreign minister who is believed to be a leader of Hamas.
The UK government said the statement was "disturbing".
"This has to be handled with great delicacy," said Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells.
"Hamas will know very very well that there are very delicate negotiations that have been going on, and we hope that they are not using this as some sort of publicity stunt to win favour with some elements in the West."
On Friday, Hamas said it would no longer allow Johnston to be held captive and that it was in contact with the journalists' abductors.
The Army of Islam has threatened to kill the BBC man if certain Islamist prisoners - in particular Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada, who is detained in the UK - are not released.The Army of Islam has threatened to kill the BBC man if certain Islamist prisoners - in particular Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada, who is detained in the UK - are not released.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar is thought to have issued the threat Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar says negotiations are continuing
In a video released on Sunday, Johnston's captors denied they had reached a deal with Hamas for his imminent release but acknowledged that there had been "developments" in meetings with Hamas.In a video released on Sunday, Johnston's captors denied they had reached a deal with Hamas for his imminent release but acknowledged that there had been "developments" in meetings with Hamas.
"There are developments and we will let you know when there are new developments," a masked spokesman said."There are developments and we will let you know when there are new developments," a masked spokesman 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.""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."
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.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.
Several foreigners have been seized in Gaza in recent years and all have been released unharmed, but none has been held as long as the BBC reporter.Several foreigners have been seized in Gaza in recent years and all have been released unharmed, but none has been held as long as the BBC reporter.