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BBC Gaza reporter's family worried over death claim

"We make a heartfelt appeal to anyone who may have knowledge of Alan's situation and wellbeing to contact the authorities in Gaza."

--- Graham and Margaret Johnson, kidnapped reporter's parents

The parents of BBC journalist Alan Johnston, kidnapped in Gaza more than a month ago, appealed on Monday for news of his condition after an Islamist group said it had killed him.

Graham and Margaret Johnston, who live in Scotland, said in a statement that this was a "desperately worrying time" for them.

"We make a heartfelt appeal to anyone who may have knowledge of Alan's situation and wellbeing to contact the authorities in Gaza," they said. "Our son has lived and worked amongst the people of Gaza for the last 3 years to bring their story to the outside world -- and we ask every one of them to help end this ordeal."

One of the few Western reporters based in the troubled territory, Johnston, a Briton, has not been heard from since his car was found abandoned on March 12.

An e-mail sent to media organizations on Sunday, issued in the name of the Tawhid and Jihad Brigades, said the group had killed Johnston and would release a video of the killing later.

The name of the group in Arabic, Kataib al-Tawhid w'al-Jihad Falasteen, has not been heard before in Gaza but it echoed a name used by one of the most influential militant groups in Iraq run by the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a US strike last June.

His group, which at first called itself the Monotheism and Holy War Brigades, was behind many kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners in Iraq.

It later changed its name to al-Qaeda in Iraq and apparently claimed allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

The e-mail blamed the British and Palestinian authorities for failing to meet demands that prisoners be freed from Israeli jails.

No such demand has been made publicly since Johnston was abducted.

The BBC said it was not able to confirm the claim that Johnston had been killed, but said it was very concerned.

"The BBC has still had no independent verification of rumors concerning Alan Johnston," it said in a statement. "We continue to be highly concerned for his safety and are working closely with the Palestinian and British authorities to seek urgent clarification."

Last week the BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, was in Ramallah for a day of action to call for the journalist's release and he was told by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, that Johnston was safe and well. He said the Palestinian officials had "credible evidence" to support their assessment.
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