Timeline: Alan Johnston missing

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston disappeared on his way home from his Gaza City office on 12 March. He is feared kidnapped in the lawless territory, where he is thought to have been the only international correspondent still working. Intensive efforts have been made to secure his release.

WEEK 3
Frustration on the ground increases in the third week of Alan Johnston's disappearance. Palestinian journalists voice frustration at their government and presidency for their perceived lack of effort on behalf of the missing correspondent. There is still no statement from any kidnappers nor any talk of a ransom.

02 April 2007 | Fresh protests for BBC reporter
   The Guardian advert features names from the BBC and outside 
   Protests and vigils are continuing for BBC correspondent Alan
   Johnston, three weeks to the day after his suspected abduction in
   the Gaza Strip. Palestinian journalists began a boycott of their
   government and presidency to get them to do more for his
   release.

   Events were held in the West Bank and London. In Gaza, 300
   journalists stood with their mouths gagged. Dozens of media
   personalities signed an open letter in a UK newspaper urging
                                                                         him to be freed quickly and unharmed.

Your messages to Alan Protests in pictures Timeline of disappearance David Dimbleby, Sir David Frost, Jon Snow and Christiane Amanpour of CNN are among hundreds of Mr Johnston's friends and colleagues who backed a full-page advert in Monday's Guardian newspaper.

"It could have been any of us," Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow told the BBC. "We have to stand together against this."

Other signatories include:

• BBC Director-General, Mark Thompson
• Director of channels at Channel 4, Kevin Lygo
• Editors of several London newspapers
• Wadah Khanfar, editor-in-chief of Arabic TV network al-Jazeera

The BBC has had no contact since 12 March with Mr Johnston, who has lived and worked in Gaza for the past three years. He is widely believed to have been kidnapped, but no demands have been made public.

HAVE YOUR SAY
Alan should be released and be able to continue to do what he does best
Ahmed Duaij, Kuwait

Boycott
The head of the Palestinian Journalists' Union, Naim Tubasi, told the BBC it was necessary to boycott Palestinian government proceedings because the authorities were doing little to help secure the journalist's release.

"This is unacceptable for us... We will boycott coverage of (President Mahmoud) Abbas if Johnston is not released," said Abu Dhabi TV correspondent Majed Said. During the boycott, Mr Tubasi said no Palestinian media outlet would cover stories on the activities of the presidency or the new unity government. He said the protests would continue until Mr Johnston was freed.

Palestinian journalists are stepping up action for Alan Johnston Intensive international efforts have been going on to secure his safe return. These include appeals from the Arab League and the European Union and non-government groups such as Amnesty International and Reporters Without Frontiers.

The International Press Institute, a media watchdog, expressed "grave concern" about Alan Johnston's fate. IPI director Johann Fritz called on anyone with influence in Gaza to intensify their efforts to ensure his freedom.

"His work reporting fairly and accurately from Gaza has been widely praised. He has shed light on one of the world's most demanding stories - in keeping with the highest standards of the BBC," Mr Fritz said in a statement. Senior BBC colleagues of Mr Johnston have appealed to Palestinian leaders including Mr Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya.

Both have said everything possible is being done to free Mr Johnston. The BBC describes him as a highly experienced and respected reporter. He joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the last 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

WEEK 2
Intense efforts are undertaken to secure Alan Johnston's release, amid increasing concern for his safety. Monday rallies, the day of his disappearance, become a feature in the Palestinian territories and outside BBC offices and bureaux.

WEEK 1
Alan Johnston's car is found abandoned in Gaza City shortly after he left his office to drive home. The BBC says it is concerned for his safety but cannot confirm Palestinian reports that he had been kidnapped. After several days it becomes clear it is more serious than past Gaza kidnappings, when hostages have been released unharmed after just a few hours or days.

Dag Conny,

Zag je daarnet op het 10 uur journaal op de bres springen voor de vrijlating van Alain Johnston die ontvoerd is in Gaza Stad. Wat kunnen wij hier doen? Een handtekeningen-actie of iets dergelijks? Ik vind het tof wat je doet.

Groetjes, Johnnie

Hi Johnnie,

Ja iedere aandacht die er aan de ontvoering van Alan gegeven kan worden - is goed.

Vandaag was het precies 3 weken geleden, ik ken Alan goed, daarom raakt het je extra - zowel in London, Gaza als in Ramallah hebben collega's zowel Palestijnen als buitenlandse verslaggevers en zijn collega's hier en in London aandacht gevraagd voor zijn situatie. Er is geen teken van leven, er is geen organisatie die zijn ontvoering heeft opgeeist, iets wat zorgwekkend is, juist omdat dit in tegenstelling is tot eerdere ervaringen met ontvoeringen van journalisten in de gazastrook.

En helaas hebben wij het gevoel, dat de Palestijnse authoriteit niet genoeg doet om hem en of te vinden, en of vrij te krijgen.

We kunnen alleen maar hopen, dat er snel iets gebeurt en dat wij onze meer dan gewaardeerde collega en vriend weer snel terug zien.

Groet

Conny Mus