Haniya aide met kidnapped BBC journalist in Gaza, says Hamas daily

Gaza - Ghazi Hamad, a senior spokesman for Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas, met several times with kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston in Gaza, a pro-Hamas daily reported Monday. Hamad is currently on a low-profile visit to London to discuss the issue of Johnston, whose captors demand the release of a key al-Qaeda figure, Abu Qutada, in exchange for his freedom. According to the Palestine daily, the British government invited Hamad to visit the UK to discuss the demands made by the Army of Islam, which has claimed responsibility from snatching Johnston, 44, at gunpoint in Gaza City on March 12. The Army of Islam is the same group which has claimed responsibility the abduction, along with Hamas and a third group, of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit almost one year ago. Shalit is still being held at an unknown location in Gaza and Egyptian-led indirect negotiations on a prisoners swap are currently in a deadlock. Johnston was the only and last Western reporter to stay full time in the volatile Gaza Strip. Speaking in Wales two days ago, Hamad, in the first official remarks on Johnston's condition, said the BBC correspondent was alive and well. He also said he hoped Johnston may be released 'soon.' © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Haniya aide met kidnapped BBC journalist in Gaza, says Hamas daily

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