Islamist group says holding BBC reporter

Source: Reuters

Islamist group says holding BBC reporter

Reuters - 11 minutes ago

DUBAI (Reuters) - A little-known Islamist group said it was
holding the BBC's Middle East correspondent Alan Johnston who
disappeared eight weeks ago, according to an audio recording
posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

"We demand that Britain free our prisoners, particularly the
honourable Sheikh Abu Qatada al Filistini," said a speaker on
the tape from the Jaysh al Islam (Army of Islam) group. The
authenticity of the tape could not immediately be verified.

The recording was posted on an Islamist Web site often used
by al Qaeda and other militant groups, and was accompanied
by what appeared to be a picture of Johnston's BBC
identification card.


Link: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070509/tpl-uk-palestinians-johnston-4b8df73.html

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Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Wednesday, 9 May 2007, 05:04 GMT 06:04 UK

BBC checks 'Alan Johnston tape'

The al-Jazeera news channel has received a tape purportedly
from the kidnappers of the BBC's Gaza correspondent Alan
Johnston.

It includes certain demands and shows pictures, including
one apparently of Mr Johnston's BBC identity card.

It was delivered to al-Jazeera in Gaza and was made by a
group calling itself Jaish-e-al-Islam (The Army of Islam).

The BBC said it was investigating the contents of the tape,
but would not be commenting further at this stage.


-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6637507.stm