Media stars seek reporter's release

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Sir Trevor McDonald, Jeremy Paxman, Sir David Frost, Jon Snow, Kirsty Wark and Natasha Kaplinsky are among 300 people who gave their name to the plea, made in a full-page advert in the Guardian.

The list includes broadcasters from the leading channels and national newspaper editors as well as Wadah Khanfar, editor-in-chief of Arabic TV network al-Jazeera.

The advert says: "We, the undersigned, demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. It's now been twenty-one days since Alan was abducted, and we still have not received firm word about his whereabouts or his condition.

"Alan has worked in Gaza for three years - he decided to live in the area as he felt it was the only way to tell the story of the people of Gaza.

"We ask again that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts, to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed."

The advert is published three weeks to the day that Mr Johnston, 44, disappeared.

The BBC has had no contact with him since March 12 and it is believed he has been kidnapped although no demands have been made public.

Palestinian journalists are planning a rally and a boycott in coverage of government activities to press for his release. Simultaneous demonstrations will be staged in Ramallah and Gaza City.

Mr Johnston had lived and worked in Gaza for the past three years. He joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the last 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.