BBC Monitoring

Text of report by Palestinian Ramattan News Agency website, headlined: "In new statement, Army of Islam reiterates demand to free Sajidah, Abu-Qatadah, Al-Maqdisi in exchange for Johnston's release" - Ramattan headline]

    Gaza, 26 June: The Army of Islam reiterated its demand to free Sajidah al-Iraqiyah [sentenced to death in Jordan over hotel attacks in Amman in November 2005], Abu-Qatadah al-Filastini [currently in jail in the UK], and Abu-Muhammad al-Maqdisi [currently held in Jordan], stating that "there will be no haggling or discussion over it, even if he (Johnston) stays in captivity a thousand years, or is slaughtered like a lamb."

    In a new statement to the press, a copy of which was received by Ramattan, the organization says that "the demand is crystal-clear: free the three, and we will free our prisoner. There will be no haggling or discussion about it, even if he stays in captivity for a thousand years, or is slaughtered like a lamb."

    Source: Ramattan News Agency website, Gaza, in Arabic 1537 gmt 26 Jun 07