Britain slams release of BBC newsman video

LONDON: Britain's Foreign Office on Friday condemned the release of a video of BBC reporter Alan Johnston by Palestinian militants, and reiterated a call for his release.   

"We condemn the release of videos like this which can only add to the distress of Alan Johnston's family and friends," it said in a statement reacting to the video, the first since Johnston was kidnapped in March.   

"They have not seen Alan now for 11 weeks -- those holding Alan should release him," the Foreign Office added.   

Officials also stressed that they were in close contact with Palestinian authorities, Johnston's family and the BBC.   

The video shows the reporter, which was kidnapped in Gaza City, apparently in good health but a message to his family was cut from the broadcast.   

He said that the "suffering" of the Palestinian people was "continuing and it is unacceptable," adding: "In history, the British worked to bring about the State of Israel, which is the cause of all the suffering of the Palestinian people."   

Johnston also said that the British government was "endlessly working to occupy the Muslim lands against the will of the people" and was to blame, alongside the United States, for the situation in Iraq.