Family's distress at Johnston video

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In the recording, posted on a website used by militants, Mr Johnston appeals to the British Government and Palestinian group Hamas not to try to free him by force, saying negotiations had reached a "very promising" stage.

Mr Johnston wears a blue and white checked vest strapped around his torso and attached to shoulder straps which he says is an explosive belt.

The video, which is just under two minutes long, opens with the title "Alan's Appeal" in both English and Arabic and features the logo of the Army of Islam, the group that has claimed responsibility for the gunpoint abduction of Mr Johnston as he made his way home from work in Gaza City on March 12.

Mr Johnston tells the camera: "Captors tell me that very promising negotiations were ruined when the Hamas movement and the British government decided to press for a military solution to this kidnapping and the situation is now very serious."

Standing and shaking his head as he speaks, he continues: "As you can see, I have been dressed in what is an explosive belt, which the kidnappers say will be detonated if there is an attempt to storm the area.

"They say they are ready to turn the hide-out into what they describe as a death zone if there is an attempt to free me by force."

In a transcript of the video provided to the Press Association by Washington, US-based IntelCenter, which monitors terrorism communications with the US government, Mr Johnston said: "I do appeal to the Hamas movement and the British government not, not to resort to the tactics of force in an effort to end this. I would ask the BBC and anyone in Britain who wishes me well to support me in that appeal. It seems the answer is to return to negotiations, which I am told are very close to achieving a deal."

Alan Johnston's father Graham released a statement, saying: "My family and I are obviously most concerned and distressed at this latest development. Our thoughts, of course, are with Alan in his present predicament. We earnestly request his abductors to release Alan unharmed in any way."

The Foreign Office (FCO) renewed its calls for Mr Johnston's release.