 Colleagues at the Glastonbury festival, on sets and in newsrooms worldwide will pause at 1315 GMT (1415 UK time). Mr Johnston's parents will release 100 balloons marking the days passed since a group calling itself The Army of Islam abducted the reporter. On Monday a deadline for his release, set by Hamas, passed without progress. Johnston was the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza, and his abduction has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world. Several foreigners have been seized in Gaza in recent years and all have been released unharmed, but none has been held as long as the BBC reporter. 'Soap opera pause' BBC staff, wherever they are working, have been encouraged to pause and think of Johnston on Wednesday. The BBC Trust, led by the chairman Sir Michael Lyons, is planning to break from its meeting to take part in an event at Broadcasting House in central London. Colleagues on the set of soap opera EastEnders and those working at the Glastonbury festival in Wiltshire, will also be among those participating. Many members of staff are expected to hold pictures of the reporter during the "pause". BBC News 24 and BBC World will carry live pictures of the event, which will also be covered on the BBC World Service and the BBC's interactive services. 'No deal' On Friday, Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said it had set a deadline of Monday for the kidnappers to free Johnston. In a video released two days later, Johnston's captors denied they had reached a deal with Hamas for his imminent release but acknowledged that there had been "developments" in meetings with Hamas. But Monday's deadline passed without further progress.
Story from BBC NEWS: Published: 2007/06/19 15:57:25 GMT © BBC MMVII back to news headlines |