BBC investigates Johnston claims

The BBC is continuing to investigate unconfirmed reports that its Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is dead.

A previously unknown militant group, the Brigades of Tawheed and Jihad, claims to have killed the 44-year-old journalist.

Mr Johnston was kidnapped by masked gunmen outside his apartment last month.

An updated statement from the BBC said: "The BBC has still had no independent verification of rumours concerning Alan Johnston.

"We continue to be highly concerned for his safety and are demanding urgent clarification from the Palestinian and British authorities.

"Our thoughts are with Alan's family, and we appeal to those who have taken him to release him unharmed."

Staff at some of the BBC's UK offices holding rallies to highlight Mr Johnston's plight.

They will take place in London, at the corporation's main Television Centre and the World Service headquarters, Bush House.

Staff will also gather at BBC Scotland's offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen, with Edinburgh staff congregating outside the Scottish Parliament to show their support for the journalist.

Mr Johnston was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza and had been preparing to leave because his three-year placement was due to finish at the end of March.

The journalist joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the past 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Thousands of people from around the world have signed a petition calling for his release and hundreds have also posted messages of support on the BBC News website.

Palestinian journalists have organised a series of strikes and rallies to protest at his abduction.

Three hundred top UK media personalities also joined forces to demand the journalist's release.

Sir Trevor McDonald, Jeremy Paxman, Sir David Frost, Jon Snow, Kirsty Wark and Natasha Kaplinsky were among those who gave their names to a full-page advert published in The Guardian on April 2.

They urged everyone with "influence" to increase their efforts and ensure he was freed "quickly and unharmed".

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