Free hate preacher, say BBC man's kidnappers

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Alan Johnston, 44, the corporation's Gaza correspondent, was seized there more than eight weeks ago.

Kidnapped: BBC's Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston has been missing for two months

This is the first time his kidnappers have officially been heard from.

In a package of demands, the littleknown group calling itself Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), asks for Abu Qatada, Osama Bin Laden's ' ambassador to Europe' to be freed.

The demands were made in a videotape delivered to the Al Jazeera news network in Gaza. Images apparently showing the hostage's ID card were also included.

The Islamist group also posted an image of the ID card and an audio recording on a website often used by Al Qaeda and militant groups.

The BBC said it was investigating the tape but would not comment further.

Abu Qatada, a Palestinian cleric, is one of more than a dozen Arab men Britain has been holding under detention or house arrest as threats to national security.

Extremist: Abu Qatada

The Special Immigration Appeals Committee ruled in February that he could be deported to Jordan, where he has been convicted twice in his absence of involvement in terrorist plots.

Although the Army of Islam's claim could not be verified, the same group - which has loose ties to Hamas and militant groups - was involved in the capture of an Israeli soldier last June.