Vigil for reporter on 100th day of captivity
Two videos of Alan Johnston have been broadcast by his captors
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Wednesday, 20, Jun 2007 08:46
A worldwide vigil is being held today for the kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston on the 100th day of his captivity.
Mr Johnston was kidnapped by a group claiming to call itself the Army of Islam on March 12th in Gaza City.
Despite widespread international pressure for his release, the 45-year-old's fate is still unknown and the BBC hopes today's vigil will help keep his plight in the public profile.
Mr Johnston's parents, who have previously made an emotional TV appeal for his freedom, will release 100 balloons at their home village of Lochgoilhead, Scotland, this afternoon.
At the same time, the reporter's BBC colleagues, many of whom will be holding posters and wearing T-shirts in support of Mr Johnston, will pause their work as part of events screened live on TV.
BBC workers in London, Washington, New York, Brussels, Jerusalem and Kabul are all taking part, as are members of the EastEnders cast and the BBC crew at the Glastonbury Festival.
"On the 100th day we are more steadfast in our support for Alan than ever and our thoughts are always with his family," director of BBC News, Helen Boaden, said.
In Gaza itself, Hamas officials have said they are making progress in trying to secure the journalist's release.
The Palestinian faction, which recently forced rival Fatah to its powerbase in the West Bank after a week of gun battles in Gaza, said on Monday it was prepared to use force to secure the safe release of the correspondent.
Among the demands issued so far by the journalist's purported captors, who have released two videos of their captive, is the release of Muslim prisoners in Britain.