The Archbishop of York pounded an African drum to celebrate the release of the BBC's Alan Johnston from captivity in Gaza today. Now Hamas wants recognition for its Palestinian authority. And many non-Westerners remain in prison.

With global attention focussing on news of BBC journalist Alan Johnston's release from captivity in Gaza, a leading church agency says it is time to end the isolation of the Palestinian authority if peace is to be possible.

The Catholic archbishop of Dublin and the Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday by calling for the release of the kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

The Archbishop of York is to hold a prayer vigil today (Tuesday) for BBC journalist Alan Johnston, missing in Gaza. Christians and others are also remembering the many other captives in Iraq and Israel.