An Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) lawmaker said on Wednesday the abducted BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, can be freed within 24 hours, if the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) cooperates.

"If the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the unity government (led by Hamas) and the presidency banded together, Johnston would be freed within 24 hours," said Hamas legislator Yehia Moussa, without specifying what kind of cooperation he was referring to.

His remarks came amid an angry protest by dozens of Palestinian journalists in Gaza as Johnston, a British and the only Gaza-based foreign journalist, entered his 23rd day of captivity.

Tens of journalists marched towards the PLC headquarters, holding posters for Johnston and demanding the security services to work on freeing him as soon as possible.

The Palestinian journalists sealed off the PLC doors and prevented legislators, members of political factions, from entering the parliament to attend a regular session.

Confrontations erupted between the journalists and the PLC security guards until several legislators agreed to speak with them.

The journalists held poster reading "Free Alan" and chanted " PLC solve the problem, if not go home."

The demonstration took place on the third day of a strike called by the Palestinian journalists union which threatened to extend blackout on news involving the Hamas-led coalition government and President Mahmoud Abbas.

Johnston, BBC bureau chief in Gaza, was abducted by masked militants in central Gaza City on March 12.

About 17 international journalists and foreigners were kidnapped in Gaza in 2006 but all of them were later released unharmed.

Source: Xinhua