Archbishop in release Johnston plea

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The interview follows reports earlier this week that a group calling itself Jaish-e-al-Islam (The Army of Islam) sent a video purporting to show a picture of Mr Johnston's press card to the al-Jazeera bureau in Gaza.

The tape includes certain demands and shows pictures, including one apparently of Mr Johnston's BBC identity card.

The 44-year-old journalist was seized at gunpoint on his way home in Gaza City on March 12.

In the interview, Dr John Sentamu appeals directly to Mr Johnston's captors to release him immediately and unharmed.

The archbishop also stressed Alan Johnston's role in giving a voice to the Palestinian people as the only journalist to have remained in Gaza.

The archbishop has frequently spoken of his concern about Mr Johnston's plight and has been holding a prayer vigil at Bishopthorpe Palace near York.

The senior cleric has also spoken about his own captivity under the regime of Idi Amin in Uganda.

The Archbishop's interview will be broadcast at 9pm on Saturday.