Kidnapped BBC journalist still alive, says Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said today that intelligence services have confirmed that kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston is alive.

“Yes, I believe he is still alive,” Abbas told reporters in Stockholm.

“Our intelligence services have confirmed to me that he’s alive.”

Abbas said he knew which group was holding Johnston, but declined to give details.

Mr Abbas said he knew which group was holding Mr Johnston, who works for the BBC but would not say whether any contact had been established with the captors.

"What I'm telling you is based on my intelligence and our intelligence service gathering," the president said, adding that he received reports that Mr Johnston was alive "in the last three days".

Mr Johnston, 44, was abducted by gunmen in Gaza City on March 12 and has not been seen or heard from since then.

On Sunday, a previously unknown group The Brigades of Tawheed and Jihad, said it had killed Mr Johnston to support demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

There has been no confirmation of the claim.

"We know the group that holds him," Mr Abbas said.

He said he was "exerting every possible effort...to ensure the safety of Mr Johnston and to ensure his immediate release".

Mr Abbas said he knew which group was holding Mr Johnston, who works for the BBC but would not say whether any contact had been established with the captors.

"What I'm telling you is based on my intelligence and our intelligence service gathering," the president said, adding that he received reports that Mr Johnston was alive "in the last three days".

Mr Johnston, 44, was abducted by gunmen in Gaza City on March 12 and has not been seen or heard from since then.

On Sunday, a previously unknown group The Brigades of Tawheed and Jihad, said it had killed Mr Johnston to support demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

There has been no confirmation of the claim.

"We know the group that holds him," Mr Abbas said.

He said he was "exerting every possible effort...to ensure the safety of Mr Johnston and to ensure his immediate release".