Alan Johnston's freedom should trigger further releases

5.38.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jul 2007

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has called for the release of other detainees to follow that of Alan Johnston.

Baroness Ludford said:

"The international pressure which helped free Alan Johnston needs to continue. Israeli soldiers Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose whereabouts are still unknown, must be freed, and in the meantime proof that they are safe must be demanded by the Quartet."

"But it does Israel's reputation no favours to go outside recognised legal processes itself. The Israeli authorities should either charge and try Palestinian legislator Nasser al-Shaer and those who were detained with him or release them."

"Hostage-taking and extra-judicial detention will never lead to progress, any more than terrorist violence. Only through continuing the positive pressure which led to the release of Alan Johnston can we achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East."