Since the 12th of last March, BBC correspondent Alan Johnston abduction is going on, yesterday (May 9, 2007) the so-called Army of Islam announced responsibility for his kidnapping, through a tape aired by Al-Jazeera chanell,  and demanded Johnston exchange with Muslims prisoners in British jails, ahead of them Abu Qotada (Omar Mahmoud Othman), who is from Palestinian origin, and accused as one of Al-Qa’eda leaders in Europe.
Mada center is denouncing this new blackmail attempt, because the kidnapping was designed from the beginning to gain self benefits to the group, and have nothing to do with any political goals, but it seems that the kidnappers realized it difficult to realize their demands, sought refuge to this mean of packaging the issue in a political wrapper, this is considered as new abuse to Palestinian people and their just cause, carried out by that group, which is interested in nothing but its interests , in a miserable attempt to copy some of Yemeni tribes experience in this field.
The Palestinian Authority and government, which know the identity of the kidnappers, and place of his abduction, as Prime Minister Ismail Haniya announced in the second of this month ( we thought of using force and storming the place, in which we believe that Johnston is being there , we have consulted the British government, but they refused ), are urged to exert maximum efforts to release Johnston, through peaceful mean, which does not danger his life , although we are aware of the difficult security situation in Gaza Strip, where there are no manifestations of insecurity still continuing, despite the signing of Mecca agreement, and the formation of national unity government.
On the other hand, Mada center strongly condemn, a tribe armed group attack on Reuters photographer Bassam Masa’ud, and Associated Press photographer Ya’qup Abu Ghalwa, in Khanions city, yesterday (May 9, 2007), and damaging their cameras, during their coverage of the group burning of third floor of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company building in Khanions.
Ramallah May 10, 2007