Ramallah, 13-03-07: A statement released by the Palestinian National Initiative today in Arabic condemned the kidnapping of BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, in the Gaza Strip yesterday. The statement cited PNI General Secretary, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, who called for Johnston’s immediate release unharmed, and for the Palestinian authorities to take immediate action to bring his kidnappers to justice.
Dr. Barghouthi added that such actions serve only to harm the Palestinians’ legitimate struggle to end Israel’s occupation, and is wholly out of keeping with Palestinian traditions and values.
Johnston was kidnapped by masked gunmen in Gaza City on Monday, and remains in captivity. He has been the only journalist from a major news organization to be based in the Gaza Strip in recent months after most agencies withdrew their staff following a deterioration of the security situation in Gaza.
Photo: Palestinian journalists protest against the kidnapping of BBC television correspondent Alan Johnston, in Gaza City, Tuesday March 13, 2007. The Hamas-led Palestinian government on Tuesday said it has identified the kidnappers of a BBC journalist abducted in Gaza by four masked gunmen and hopes to free him soon. the signs read ‘freedom for the journalist Alan Johnston, the Palestinian journalists calling for release Alan Johnston‘ and ‘The kidnapping of Alan Johnston is a crime, and the Palestinian Authority should take responsibility for it.‘ (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)