Reporters unite for Alan Johnston

A hundred activists and volunteers representing over 100 media organisations from over 30 countries have staged a protest in Paris calling for the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

Today is Johnston's 100th day in captivity. He was seized at gunpoint when travelling to his home in Gaza on March 12.

Logos from the world's media were held up by Reporters Without Borders volunteers on the grass of the Camp-de-Mars, opposite the Eiffel Tower, today. The organisation projected Johnston's face on the side of Battersea Power Station last night.

"We must now, more than ever, take action to demand Alan Johnston’s swift release," RWB said in a statement. "This BBC correspondent must not be forgotten as the Gaza Strip is plunged into more and more violent crises. It falls to Hamas, which now has sole control of the Gaza Strip, to do everything possible to obtain his release. Johnston should not have to pay for the instability in the Palestinian Territories, which he had been covering since 2005.

"Ismael Haniyeh and the other Hamas leaders must also order their security services to ensure that journalists are able to work safely and without restrictions in the Gaza Strip. Otherwise, more journalists will be taken hostage in the future."

At 14:15 BST today, BBC staff around the world paused for a minute to think of Johnston. BBC News 24, BBC World, the World Service and BBCi carried pictures of the vigil, which was led by Johnston's parents in Scotland. BBC director of news Helen Boaden said that the BBC is "more steadfast in our support for Alan than ever and our thoughts are always with his family."