Kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston has appeared in a new video, saying he is wearing a bomb-belt that his Gaza captors will detonate if there is any attempt to rescue him.
The short video, released by the Palestinians who have been holding the British journalist for 105 days, was condemned by the BBC and Foreign Office. "As you can see I've been dressed in what is an explosive belt, which the kidnappers say will be detonated if there's any attempt to storm this area," says Johnston wearing a number of packages strapped around his chest.
"They say they are ready to turn the hideout into what they describe as a death zone if there's an attempt to free me by force," he added.
The journalist has been held in the Gaza Strip since he was kidnapped on March 12.
"Captors tell me that very promising negotiations were ruined when the Hamas movement and the British government decided to press for a military solution to this kidnapping and the situation is now very serious," Johnston said in the brief video.
"I do appeal to the Hamas movement and the British government not, not to resort to the tactics of force in an effort to end this," added the journalist. "I would ask the BBC and anyone in Britain who wishes me well to support me in that appeal. It seems the answer is to return to negotiations, which I'm told are very close to achieving a deal."
