The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said yesterday it was increasingly concerned about the safety of one of its journalists, Alan Johnston, who it believes was abducted in Gaza a week ago.

In a statement released in London, the broadcaster urged anyone with influence in the region to do all they can to ensure the safe release of Johnston, who has not been seen since March 12 when he left the BBC?s office to drive to his Gaza City home.

?Although we have not been able to establish exactly what has happened to Alan, it seems certain that he has been abducted and is being held somewhere in the Gaza Strip,? the BBC said.

?It is disappointing that after seven days there has still been no firm word either about his whereabouts or his condition.

We call on everyone with influence on this situation to redouble their efforts now that Alan has been missing for more than one week.?

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said last week Hamas security men had been searching for Johnston and security services had been told ?to do all they can? to secure his release.

Johnston, who has been the BBC?s correspondent in Gaza for three years, is believed to be the only Western journalist still based full time in Gaza.

Most other journalists moved out of the impoverished coastal strip last year as fighting between rival Hamas and Fatah factions intensified.

There have been a series of abductions of foreign journalists and aid workers in Gaza in the past year, but all have been released unharmed.