P.A.: BBC journalist is alive

The Palestinian Authority said it believed a British
journalist abducted in the Gaza Strip was alive, despite a claim he had
been killed. An aide to P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas said
Thursday that the claim about BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, which was issued by a previously unknown Islamist group last week, was false. “All
sources in Gaza have informed the president that contrary to these
reports, Mr. Johnston is alive,” Saeb Erekat told Reuters
while accompanying Abbas on a visit to Norway. “The president is reassured
that he is alive and every effort is being exerted now to acquire his
release.”Johnston was abducted in Gaza last month; there has been no
ransom demand.