International

Kidnappers Release British Reporter in Gaza

By Alex Cohen, Eric Westervelt

Published July 4, 2007 at 10:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston talks about his kidnapping during a press conference in Israel. Johnston was released after 16 weeks in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

British journalist Alan Johnston looks gaunt, but he says it is "fantastic" to be free.

The BBC reporter was released Wednesday after being held hostage by extremists in the Gaza Strip for 114 days.

Johnston was snatched off a street in Gaza City on March 12 and held in solitary confinement by an al Qaeda-inspired group, the Army of Islam.

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His release was the result of pressure and negotiations by Hamas officials, who seized control of the region three weeks ago.

International

Eric Westervelt

Eric Westervelt is a San Francisco-based correspondent for NPR's National Desk. He has reported on major events for the network from wars and revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa to historic wildfires and terrorist attacks in the U.S.

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