Alan Johnston 'still alive'

The Palestinian President has said that kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston is still alive.

President Mahmoud Abbas revealed intelligence services have confirmed that the reporter was alive, raising hopes for the release of Mr Johnston.

"Yes, I believe he is still alive," President Abbas said in Stockholm. "Our intelligence services have confirmed to me that he's alive."

President Abbas said he knew which group was holding Johnston, but refused to give details.

The 44-year-old correspondent has been missing for more than a month after he was abducted by masked gunmen as he left his office building in Gaza city.

Suggestions that Mr Johnston is alive come after a previously unknown Palestinian group, The Brigades of Tawheed and Jihad, sent a statement to news organisations at the weekend claiming it had killed the Scot.

His parents Graham and Margaret Johnston, who live in Cairndow, Argyll, said at the weekend: "This is a desperately worrying time for us.

"We make a heartfelt appeal to anyone who may have knowledge of Alan's situation and well-being to contact the authorities in Gaza.

"Our son has lived and worked among the people of Gaza for the last three years to bring their story to the outside world and we ask everyone of them to help end this ordeal."

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