The captors of kidnapped journalist Alan Johnston have promised to release the British Broadcasting Corp. correspondent within 24 hours, a source close to the negotiations said Friday.
Hamas vowed Friday to secure Johnston's release, a promise seemingly meant to avoid alienating the outside world and to tell other armed groups in Gaza that it intends to impose order, after wresting control of the Strip from the rival Fatah by force.
Johnston, 45, was snatched in Gaza three months ago by a group believed to have some links to Hamas, and a message purporting to be from his captors has demanded the release of Islamic prisoners, including a cleric being held in Britain.
In a press conference in Gaza on Friday morning, the day after Hamas routed Fatah from Gaza Strip security installations, spokesman Abu Obeid demanded that those holding the BBC correspondent free him at once.
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/871519.html