LOC10:46
07:46 GMT
GAZA, May 9 (KUNA) -- The Army of Islam, a shadowy Palestinian group,
claimed responsibility on Wednesday for kidnapping BBC's Gaza correspondent
Alan Johnston.
This came in an audio recording distributed to a number of media offices in
Gaza, but no official body confirmed its authenticity.
The group called on Britain to free the Moslem prisoners, particularly
Palestinian inmate Omar Abu Omar known as Abu Qatada, 47, who has been
imprisoned since October 2002.
Britain had arrested Abu Qatada, who was born in Jordan, over suspected
links to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Johnston was kidnapped on March 12 when he was stopped by armed men while
driving his car in the Gaza Strip. Since then, his whereabouts have remained
unknown.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniya said, on May 2, that "Britain
refused to use force to free Johnston to spare his life and called for solving
the issue through negotiations."
The Palestinian Army of Islam is said to be a Palestinian militant group
which took part in the capturing of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in
coordination with with Izzidine Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of the
Hamas movement. (end)
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