UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday for the immediate release of a BBC journalist, abducted in the Gaza Strip a month ago, and offered to help secure his freedom.

The correspondent, Alan Johnston, has been held longer than any other foreign journalist seized in the Gaza Strip. There has been no claim of responsibility for the kidnapping.

"I sincerely hope that those who are responsible for this abduction should release him unconditionally and immediately," Ban told reporters. "I am deeply concerned. I will do whatever I can in my capacity as secretary general."

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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he had credible evidence that Johnston was "safe and well," according to the British Broadcasting Corporation's director-general, Mark Thompson, who spoke to reporters after meeting Abbas.

Complimenting Johnston, Ban said his coverage of "Palestinian issues has earned a great reputation worldwide."

"Freedom of coverage, as well as freedom of the press, should be protected as a matter of principle," Ban said.

On Tuesday, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said every effort was being made to get the veteran BBC reporter released.

Johnston, whose tour of duty in Gaza was coming to an end, was snatched minutes after leaving his office in Gaza City on March 12.

Johnston was abducted at gunpoint in Gaza City on March 12, and there has been no sign of life from him since, and no word from his captors. No other foreigner has been held in Gaza as long as he has been.

Thompson told a news conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah that there had been no contacts with Johnston's captors, and no demands from them. He appealed to the kidnappers to release Johnston.

"It is vital for all journalists to be able to report freely and without fear of harrassment and intimidation," Thompson said.

"I appeal to all those who may have influence with the kidnappers to use their best endeavors to secure Alan's release, safely and speedily, and to ensure his return to his family and friends as quickly as possible," he said.

Thompson said he did not know why the case was taking so long to be resolved.

More than a dozen foreign journalists and aid workers have been abducted in Gaza in the past 18 months, and most have been released unharmed within hours or days.

The one exception was the abduction of two Fox News employees in August, which lasted two weeks before they were freed, unharmed.

To mark the fourth week of his capture, the BBC and other broadcasters have joined up to stage what is called an "international day of action."

In an unprecedented show of unity and concern, three international news networks held a joint broadcast Thursday calling for Johnston's release a month after he was kidnapped by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza City.

The 25-minute broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corp., Al-Jazeera and Sky News - with a contribution from CNN - was part of a day of public events meant to put pressure on the kidnappers, including an appeal from Johnston's father to "let my son go. Now. Today!"

Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said the PA chairman had been reassured that Johnston was alive, and Abbas is exerting every possible effort to ensure his release.

"I have never been more ashamed as a Palestinian than what I feel now with the continued abduction of Johnston," Erekat said.

The so-called Day of Action on behalf of Johnston was organized by the BBC to ensure that his plight is not forgotten.

In a morning news conference in London, the journalist's father, Graham Johnston, read an appeal to those holding him.

"You have families. Please think about what this is doing to my family," he said.

He also told his son not to worry about his family and to maintain hope. "Chin up, my son," he said.

Later, the BBC, Sky and Al-Jazeera English cut into their regular programming in the afternoon for a joint broadcast focusing on Johnston.

The 25-minute commercial-free live broadcast was anchored by Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's Middle East editor, from the main square in the West Bank city of Ramallah. A poster reading Free Alan could be seen in the background.

The three stations, as well as CNN, contributed segments on Johnson's work from Gaza, the ongoing dangers that journalists face in the chaotic territory and the protests demanding Alan be freed. They showed Johnston's empty desk in his BBC office and conducted interviews with Gaza journalists and foreign correspondents about their concerns and thoughts about their captive colleague.

"Alan is a good and honest reporter who for three years has been doing some brilliant work from Gaza," Bowen said.

In addition to the broadcast, all four stations ran stories all day highlighting Johnston's situation.

"We wanted to produce a program which had impact in the Middle East and around the globe and we are extremely grateful for all the co-operation shown by our fellow broadcasters," said Richard Porter, head of news for BBC World.

Palestinian journalists have held a number of rallies for Johnston, and the European Broadcasting Union has demanded his release.