BBC journalist reported to be dead

Updated 23.32 Sun Apr 15 2007

Keywords: news, Gaza, BBC, Alan Johnston

The BBC said it was "deeply concerned" by reports that its kidnapped Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston has been killed.

Mr Johnston, originally from Scotland, was taken by masked gunmen as he returned to his apartment in Gaza City on March 12.

"We are deeply concerned about what we are hearing, but we stress at this stage it is rumour with no independent verification" - BBC statement

He is the longest-held reporter to be abducted in the Gaza Strip.

The BBC said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned about what we are hearing, but we stress at this stage it is rumour with no independent verification."

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokeswoman added: "We are aware of these reports and are urgently looking into them."

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.