| Per LGF, this is kabuki theater designed to make Hamas look good. Whatever. Something tells me he's in Tehran anyway. |
A SHADOWY group which has been holding BBC journalist Alan Johnston for three months yesterday threatened to kill him, in a video broadcast by the al-Jazeera satellite TV channel. A spokesman for the Army of Islam, identified as Abu Khattab, denied they had reached a deal, announced by Hamas, to release Gaza correspondent Mr Johnston. In the video, the masked spokesman added: "If the situation gets more complicated concerning us and our group, then we will ingrate ourselves to Allah by slaying this journalist."
After taking control of the Gaza Strip last week, Hamas officials said they had made contact with Mr Johnston's kidnappers and would work to win his release - in an apparent bid to gain favour with the international community and impose order in Gaza. Since then, the group has sent mixed messages about how soon Mr Johnston could be freed.
Last night, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, told The Scotsman that "regardless of what was said in this videotape, Hamas is exerting intensive efforts to release Alan. "This file is among the most important files the Hamas movement is working for. The movement will not accept any delay in the release of Johnston."
He added Hamas's defeat of the Fatah security apparatus last week had opened an opportunity for working towards Mr Johnston's release. He said: "With the return of security to Gaza after the expulsion of the groups that caused the security chaos, it is natural that Alan Johnston be among our first files." Asked if Mr Johnston would be released in the coming days, Mr Abu Zuhri said "Hamas will not delay in closing this file. Alan will say a lot when he is free and what he says will surprise the world."
Earlier, Islam Shawan, a spokesman for the executive force militia of Hamas, claimed Mr Johnston's release was imminent. "From the first day of the kidnapping we knew the kidnapper and his name is Moutaz Doghmush, who claims that he heads the Army of Islam."
In the new video shown yesterday, the masked spokesman repeated demands for the release of Islamic militant prisoners, in particular Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada, who is detained in the UK. "There are developments and we will let you know when there are new developments," he said. "If they do not meet these demands there will be no release of this prisoner, but if things get worse we will get closer to God by killing this journalist."
Palestinian officials have said they know where to find Mr Johnston, but have held back on raiding the hideout at Britain's request, for fear of harming him. 
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