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Vigils Mark 100 Days of Captivity for British Journalist Held in Gaza


Journalists from around the world have organized vigils to mark British journalist Alan Johnston's 100th day as a hostage of Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas officials said Wednesday, they are working to secure the BBC journalist's release.

The Islamist faction, Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip last week, has indicated that it is in talks with the kidnappers and that he could be released soon.

But the group claiming to hold Johnston, the Army of Islam, has said it will kill him if its demands for a prisoner exchange are not met.

The group has demanded that Britain release al-Qaida-linked Islamic cleric Abu Qatada al-Filistini as well as other prisoners.

Johnston was the only Western reporter working in Gaza at the time of his abduction. There has been no word on his condition since the release of a video June 1 in which he was shown saying his captors were treating him well. The footage was edited and it was not clear when it was made.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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