Watch the video of Alan Johnston

Transcript of video message

An undated video that shows the BBC journalist Alan Johnston alive for the first time since his abduction in Gaza 11 weeks ago was released on the internet today by an Islamist group.

The group calling itself Jaysh al Islam (Army of Islam) sent the film to a Palestinian news agency this morning.

The video shows Johnston describing his job in Gaza and delivering a highly political anti-Western message. It also contains his captors’ demands for the release of prisoners held in the UK, including the radical cleric Abu Qatada.

The British Foreign Office has condemned the release of the video, which is the first hard evidence that the reporter has been kidnapped. Johnston is seen wearing a red jumper and sitting against a black backdrop.

“First of all, my captors have treated me very well. They fed me well, there has been no violence towards me at all and I’m in good health," he says.

Johnston says in the video that the British are “completely to blame” for the instability in the Middle East. “Every day there are Palestinians arrested and imprisoned for no reason. People are killed on a daily basis. The economic suffering is terrible, especially here in Gaza,” he says.

He adds: “We, the British, are completely to blame, along with the Americans, for the situation in Iraq and the British are the main force in Afghanistan causing all the trouble to all the simple Afghans who simply want to live.”

The video cuts away as Johnston attempts to address his family and a sign saying “BBC refused to take this message to his family” is shown.

A message then appears on screen stating: “We want Britain to free our prisoners and specially Sheikh Abu Qatada al-Filestini.”

Graham and Margaret Johnston, Alan’s parents, said they were pleased to see the first new footage of their son since he went missing in March.

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