Fatah blasts journalist’s release as “staged movie”

Fatah blasts journalist’s release as “staged movie”

He said Hamas staged the rescue in order to "appear as if [Hamas] respects international law."

"We're watching a movie, where the thieves in Gaza fall out and one of them claims to be honest and brave, and the other is the bad guy. This Hamas game fools no one," Rabbo said.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas hailed Johnston's release, calling him a friend of the Palestinian people. Abbas said militias like the Army of Islam must be dismantled, as they destroyed the rule of law and created chaos.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert congratulated Johnston on his release, saying in a statement that Israel joins in the happiness of his family and all of Britain.

In a statement released Wednesday by his office, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Johnston's release will come as a great relief to his family and friends and all those who have worked to see him freed.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also welcomed Johnston's release, and thanked the Palestinians for their support and Hamas for its efforts to secure the reporter's return.

"Throughout Alan's ordeal, we have seen an outstanding show of support and concern for him from around the world," Miliband said.

"The Palestinian people showed their repugnance at Alan's kidnap. Palestinian President Abbas strongly condemned Alan's kidnapping and demanded that it be brought to an end. Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas spokesmen denounced the hostage takers and demanded Alan's release," he said.

"I fully acknowledge the crucial role they have played in securing this happy outcome. And hundreds and thousands of ordinary Palestinians, especially in Gaza, campaigned tirelessly for Alan's safe release."

Following Johnston's release, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad called for renewed dialogue with Abbas so that "we can return to a normal situation."

Hamas took over the Gaza Strip last month, following days of bloody clashes with members of Abbas' Fatah movement. Abbas branded the move a "coup," and dissolved the Fatah-Hamas unity coalition, setting up a government dominated by independents in its stead.

Ahmed Yousef, an aide to Haniyeh, told Sky News that Johnston's release proved Hamas could establish law and order in the strip. "Gaza is safe, Gaza is clean, Gaza is green," Yousef said, referring to the color of the Hamas flag.

“It really is over”

Johnston was handed over by his captors to Hamas predawn Wednesday. The 45-year-old Briton was taken into the care of officials from the Hamas movement, which seized full control of Gaza three weeks ago.

"I was released a couple of hours ago as you can imagine. Occasionally quite terrifying... Now it really is over," Johnston told BBC World from Haniyeh's home in Gaza City.

At a joint press conference with Haniyeh in Gaza City, Johnston said that his kidnappers "did threaten my life a number of times in various ways."

Johnston recounted how he was chained up for 24 hours at one point, moved twice during his captivity and hit a bit in the last half hour before he was released.

The journalist told BBC World earlier "I am hugely grateful to the people who worked [for my release]. I think I am OK. Keeping my mind in the right place was a constant battle."

Johnston, the only Western correspondent working full-time in the Strip, went missing on March 12.

"I dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room... It's an amazing thing to be free," he said, sounding composed though somewhat tired.

Johnston said he had followed events on a radio during most of his time as a hostage and thanked people around the world, as well as his colleagues at the British public broadcaster, for their support and efforts to help secure his release.

He said he had spoken briefly to his family in Scotland.

Alan's parents, Graham and Margaret Johnston and sister Catriona, said they were overjoyed by the news that he was free.

"The last 114 days have been a dreadful time for us but particularly for Alan," the family said in a statement issued by the BBC. "Through it all, we never lost hope."

Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal said Wednesday the freeing of the BBC journalist showed his movement had brought order to the Gaza Strip by seizing power in the territory last month.

"We have been able to close this chapter which has harmed the image of our people greatly. The efforts by Hamas have produced the freedom of Alan Johnston," Meshal told Reuters by telephone from Syria.

Referring to his secular Palestinian rivals Fatah, he said: "It showed the difference between the era in which a group used to encourage and commit security anarchy and chaos and the current situation in which Hamas is seeking to stabilize security."

Once they had kidnapped Johnston, his captors declared themselves to be the Army of Islam, an al-Qaida-inspired group with links to one of Gaza's powerful clans.

They issued Web videos showing Johnston and seeking the release of Islamists held prisoner by Britain and other states.

Most recently, after Hamas officials threatened to free him by force from the clan's stronghold, Johnston was shown wearing an explosives belt with the warning he would die if attempts were made to free him by force.