Strasbourg, 26/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Thursday 26 April, the European Parliament adopted a joint resolution from six political groups (EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL) on the abduction of BBC journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza on 12 March, calling for Mr Johnston's immediate, unconditional and safe release and for him to be placed in safety. The resolution sends Parliament's full support to Mr Johnston's family and his colleagues and the management at the BBC in these difficult times. It pays tribute to Mr Johnston as a journalist of the highest integrity, who has worked for the BBC for 16 years, the last three as the only Western journalist permanently resident in Gaza. Parliament called on the Palestinian Authority to redouble its efforts to obtain Mr Johnston's rapid release and to ensure that journalists in Gaza are able to carry out their duties without threats of abduction or harassment, and that any act of violence towards journalists and civilians is fully investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. It called on the Commission's technical assistance office to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, diplomatic representatives of EU member states and the high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) to increase and coordinate their efforts to bring about Mr Johnston's release, and to support the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to achieve this end. (oj)