WRAP Vigil for kidnapped journalist Johnston, vigil in Brussels
(16 Apr 2007) SHOTLIST POOL London, UK 1. Pan from BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) staff standing in silence during vigil to BBC Director-General Mark Thompson standing on podium in silence 2. Mid of Thompson standing on podium in silence 3. Tilt up of woman holding sign reading (English) "Free Alan Johnston" 4. Wide shot of crowd with man holding placard of Alan Johnston's photograph 5. People leaving AP TELEVISION Brussels, Belgium 6. Tilt down from exterior of European Commission building to journalists gathered 7. Various of journalists holding Alan Johnston posters 8. SOUNDBITE (English): Jonny Dymond, BBC Correspondent in Brussels: "Alan is not an actor in the Gaza strip, he is not a player and is not an important person. He is an observer and we ask and I beg, that you release him now today." 9. Crowd listening 10. SOUNDBITE (English): Leila Shahid, Palestinian Authority's Ambassador to the European Union: "He (Alan) is in our hearts and we think of him every day and the Palestinian authority is doing its best in a very complicated situation of chaos in the Gaza strip to ensure his release." 11. Mid of European Commission Vice President Margot Wallstrom and European Parliament Vice President Edward McMillan Scott holding Alan Johnston posters 12. SOUNDBITE (English): Margot Wallstrom, European Commission Vice President: "It is also a way to call for the immediate release of him, and also all other journalists that are at risk. Unfortunately 155 journalists in 2006 were murdered because of their job and this is dangerous to the freedom of speech and a free media and to a profession which is increasingly and unfortunately targeted for political or other reasons." 13. Pan of journalists holding posters of Johnston STORYLINE Hundreds of co-workers of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalist who was abducted in the Gaza Strip last month held a vigil outside the broadcaster's London headquarters on Monday. Alan Johnston's colleagues stood in silence in front of the corporation's offices, some holding placards reading "Free Alan Johnston" and others holding placards with his photograph. Johnston's family on Monday pleaded for his captors to "end this ordeal" following unconfirmed reports he has been killed. The British Broadcasting Corporation said it could not confirm the claim by a previously unknown Palestinian group that it had killed Alan Johnston, the BBC's Gaza correspondent. 44-year-old Johnston, was abducted by gunmen after leaving his office in the coastal Palestinian territory on March 12. On Sunday, a previously unknown group, "The Brigades of Tawheed and Jihad," said it had killed Johnston to support demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Palestinian officials said they could not confirm the claim. In Brussels, BBC staff based in Belgium held a similar vigil outside the European Commission building. BBC Correspondent in Brussels, Jonny Dymond begged for Johnston's release labelling him as an "observer" in the Middle East. "Alan is not an actor in the Gaza strip, he is not a player and is not an important person," he added. Palestinian Authority's Ambassador to the European Union, Leila Shahid was also present at the rally and said, the Palestinian authority was doing its best to secure Johnston's release in "chaotic" conditions. Margot Wallstrom, European Commission Vice President also called for Johnston's immediate release. However, according to the media-advocacy group Reporters Without Borders 81 journalists and 32 media assistants were killed in 2006, the highest annual toll since 1994. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
