Ban Ki-moon Urges Immediate, UN Release Of Missing British Journalist
 
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:01:23 -0400

BAN KI-MOON URGES IMMEDIATE, UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF MISSING BRITISH JOURNALIST
 
New York, Apr 12 2007  4:00PM
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today called for the 
immediate and unconditional release of the British journalist Alan 

“His coverage of Palestinian issues has earned a great reputation 
worldwide. Freedom of coverage, as well as freedom of the press, 
should be protected as a matter of principle,” Mr. Ban said in a 
<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm10941.doc.htm">statement 
to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. 

“I sincerely hope that those who are responsible for this abduction 
should release him unconditionally and immediately. I will do 
whatever I can in my capacity as Secretary-General. My sympathy is 
with the family of Mr. Alan Johnston. I wish him well.” 

The Secretary-General said he was “deeply concerned” by the abduction 
and his call for Mr. Johnston’s immediate release comes amid 
similar appeals worldwide and also after a message from the head 
of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24359&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) 
last 
week, the body that is mandated 
to protect freedom of expression. 

Mr. Johnston, who has been living and working for the BBC in Gaza 
for several years, was abducted on 12 March near his office as he 
was returning from the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel.
 2007-04-12 00:00:00.000 


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