BBC Reporter Excecuted Or Not?

I posted an ALERT last week about the kidnapping of Alan Johnston. Just read this:

'We killed BBC reporter', Palestinian group says
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3388215,00.html

BBC reporter Alan Johnston has been killed by an al-Qaeda affilated Palestinian organization, according to an internet statement obtained by Ynetnews. The statement was signed by the Palestinian Jihad and Tawheed Brigades, an organization named after an Iraqi al-Qaeda group.

Responding to the statement, the BBC said it is "aware of these reports -- but we have no independent verification of them. We are deeply concerned about what we are hearing -- but we stress, at this stage, it is rumour with no independent verification."

In the message, the group said the British and Palestinian governments were responsible for Johnston's killing.

''The whole world knows of our just cause in demanding the release of our prisoners, who are waiting under the fire of the occupation," the statement began. "Our demand was that all of those who are responsible for the journalist... release our prisoners who are being held in the prisons of the occupation," it continued.

"The whole world made so much noise about this foreign journalist, while it took no action over our thousands of prisoners," the declaration said.

I pray this is just sick rumours and the BBC reporter is alive and safe. The Palestinians are no doubt living hell on Earth and my heart goes out to them. They see no way out of their misery and are reduced to desparate measures to defend themselves and make themselves heard. But this reporter was a friend to the Palestinian people - I've read his stuff and man is it good. He reported the truth from the Mid East and exposed the Israeli aggressors and the conditions the Palestinians lived under. So why oh why would a Palestinian group do this? Unless the rumour mill has started to smear and condmen the Palestinians altogether....