BEIT HANOUN, April 25, 2007, (WAFA)-Dozens of Palestinian journalists staged Wednesday morning a sit-in, near Beit Hanoun checkpoint, Erez, north of the Gaza Strip to demand the release of the abducted British journalist Alan Johnston.

Participants raised banners and graffiti calling for releasing of their colleague, Johnston.

Representative of Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Sakher Abu al-Aoun called on the kidnappers to immediately release the abducted journalist, pointing out that the continuing of his abduction will distort the image of the Palestinian people.

journalist Mohammed Abu Salama said that this sit-in at it Beit Hanoun checkpoint is a message to the world that the Palestinian journalists will not keep quiet on the continuing abduction of their colleague, Johnston.

M.H.(14:25 P)(11:25 GMT)