Hamas pledges to free BBC man

Gaza City: Hamas has pledged to work to free BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped by gunmen over three months ago in the Gaza Strip.

In the wake of Hamas' bloody seizure of the area, a statement from the Islamic group said, "We have started taking practical steps to release Alan Johnston."

Sacked prime minister Esmail Haniya echoed the sentiment, saying in an interview that the military takeover of Gaza by Hamas was good news for the journalist, by far the longest-detained Westerner in the territory.

In a recent interview he said, "From now on there will be one legitimate armed force. We will bring discipline and law to Gaza. It will thus be easier to gain the liberation of the British journalist Alan Johnston. His kidnappers will listen to us more closely."

The Army of Islam militant group claimed to be holding the veteran newsman and has demanded the release of Islamic militants, particularly Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada who is detained in Britain.

Hamas had announced that it was cutting all ties with the Army of Islam after it claimed the abduction. Hamas officials, including Haniya, had repeatedly called for Johnston to be released.