This really is a grim piece of news that instills little optimism. From today’s Bangkok Post:

A new video of kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston shows him wearing an explosives vest and warning he will be blown up if Hamas continues to surround the area where he is being held, the US-based Intel Center said Sunday in an e-mail to news organisations.

The video was released by Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) of Gaza, the militant group that has been holding the journalist since March, the Intel Center said.

Only Johnston speaks on the video, which is entitled "Alan's Appeal," the Intel Center said.

According to a transcript of Johnston's remarks, the journalist says his captors "are ready to turn the hideout into what they describe as a death zone if there's an attempt to free me by force."

This situation is reaching boiling point. Hamas delivered an ultimatum that Johnston be released today or else gunmen will storm the location where he is being held. The threat by his captors is that if force is used, Johnston will be killed. It’s been more than three months since Johnston was kidnapped in Gaza City. Spare a though.

Techno' tags: Alan Johnston