Father begs for release of BBC reporter

Graham Johnston, 74, begged the abductors to "think about what this is doing to my family".

He added: "You have families. Please think about the distress and deep, deep concern Alan's mother and sister have had to endure for all these long weeks. As I have said before - please - let my son go, now, today."

The BBC's Gaza reporter was seized by masked gunmen as he travelled home from work in the lawless territory four weeks ago.

Since then there has been little word of him and he has now been held longer than any foreign national kidnapped in the region.

BBC director general Mark Thompson-this week cut short his Easter holiday to fly to the West Bank to meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and appeal for the journalist's swift release. Mr Abbas assured him he had received intelligence that Mr Johnston was "safe and well" and said the Palestinian authorities were "fully engaged" in securing his freedom.

But Mr Thompson said that, despite the assurances, he and Mr Johnston's family were becoming "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of the journalist, 44.

At a press conference in London Graham Johnston, flanked by his wife Margaret, and BBC director of news Helen Boaden, read out a letter to his son.

Co-signed by Alan's sister Trini, brother-in-law Raymond and uncle Alastair, it began poignantly "Hello old son" and ended with the words "chin up".

It said: "I don't know if you will see this but I just felt that I wanted you to know how distressed and sorry we all are that you were taken.

"You had warned us frequently that the chances were always there that you would be kidnapped and we were prepared in a way for this to happen. Nevertheless, when it came it was a considerable shock."

Mr Johnston went on: " Now you have not to worry about us. Your mum, Trini and I are hanging in there and trying to keep a stiff upper lip. The support we have had from your friends and colleagues has been phenomenal.

"There are so many people worldwide all hoping and praying for your release, not least of which I am sure are the vast majority of the Palestinian population, many of whom have told us they are ashamed that you were kidnapped."

The letter ended: "Alan, all our heartfelt, warmest, fondest love is sent to you from all your family in the fervent hope that you will be released unharmed. Chin up, my son."

Today has been deemed a worldwide "day of action" by the BBC to push for the Gaza City reporter's safe return. He has been missing since 12 March.

Mr Thompson told a news conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah this morning that there was "no justification" for Mr Johnston's abduction and the Palestinian people were "ill served" by it.

He said: "I would appeal to the people holding Alan to release him immediately.

"We believe that Alan has demonstrated, over the last three years, his commitment to accurate reporting of the story of Gaza and its people ... it's absolutely in the interests of the people of Gaza and of Palestine as a whole that he should be released immediately and unharmed."

Mr Johnston joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent the past eight years as a correspondent.

He was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza and had been due to return home at the end of last month.

Rallies have been held in the UK and by journalists and media workers in the West Bank. Campaigning organisation Reporters Without Borders today unveiled a banner of Mr Johnston on the plinth of Nelson's column.