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| By: israelinsider staff |
| Published: April 17, 2007 |
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Alan Johnston's kidnappers are demanding $5 million for the release of the BBC reporter, the London-based Asharq Alawsat reported Tuesday.
This new report directly contradicts the recent claims of the Tawheed and Jihad Brigades in Palestine who published in a leaflet circulated throughout Gaza that they had killed Johnston due to Israel's failure to release Palestinian prisoners. The group promised to release a video of the execution.
These claims, which were circulated Sunday, could not be confirmed by PA officials, who say the group is connected to al-Qaida.
Johnston's family made a public plea Monday to his kidnappers to "end this ordeal."
Johnston was kidnapped on March 12 while working as a journalist in Gaza.
Approximately 200 Palestinian journalists rallied outside the PA parliament building Tuesday in support for Johnston. Conflict broke out between the security guards and the journalists, as two were beaten with rifle butts.
According to local journalists' union activist Saadi Alkasaef , "We came to ask those lawmakers about the facts and the truth on the fate of our kidnapped colleague. It's more than a month right now and we are concerned for Alan's life after the statement released two days ago. We came peacefully, but we are being assaulted now." |
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