NICOSIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot political and media leaders have appealed to the Palestinian Authority to exert effective efforts for the immediate release of a BBC reporter kidnapped in Gaza.

    In a statement faxed to Xinhua on Saturday, Cypriot parliament speaker, the archbishop, two ex-presidents and several political party leaders urged President Mahmoud Abbas as well as all Palestinian authorities to do everything possible to ensure the release of Alan Johnston.

    Johnston, 44, was abducted in Gaza on March 12 by unknown militants and since then held hostage.

    "The increasing trend of kidnapping journalists in the area of Palestine is detrimental to the Palestinian people's cause," said the statement.

    The Union of Cyprus Journalists also joined the appeal for Johnston to be "immediately and unconditionally released."