Balloons released for BBC captive

Graham and Margaret Johnston held the event in Lochgoilhead, Argyll, to mark their son's 100th day in captivity.

Thousands of Mr Johnston's colleagues, including BBC Scotland staff, have observed a vigil for him and held posters calling for his release.

The reporter was abducted in March by a group calling itself The Army of Islam.

BBC journalists were joined by colleagues in other parts of the corporation, including the cast of soap opera EastEnders, as they held silent vigils to show their support.

Silent tribute

Many Scottish-based staff gathered at the BBC's Queen Margaret Drive and Pacific Quay buildings in Glasgow.

They also stood outside BBC centres including Edinburgh, Inverness, Dundee, Dumfries and Aberdeen in silent tribute.

The BBC Trust, led by chairman Sir Michael Lyons, broke from its meeting to take part in an event at Broadcasting House in London.

Colleagues on the EastEnders' set, at the Glastonbury festival and in other newsrooms across Britain and around the world participated in the vigil, which was broadcast live by BBC News 24 and BBC World.

Mr Johnston, 45, was educated at Dollar Academy and went on to do an MA in English and Politics at Dundee University.

He gained a diploma in Journalism Studies from the University of Wales in Cardiff and joined the BBC in 1991.

Throughout his captivity, friends and colleagues have remembered Mr Johnston at a series of vigils outside BBC centres.

He was the only western reporter permanently based in Gaza and his abduction has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world.

Several foreigners have been seized in Gaza in recent years and all have been released unharmed, but none has been held as long as the BBC reporter.