Imprisoned Fatah-Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti on Wednesday appealed to the kidnappers of BBC journalist Alan Johnston to release him immediately, calling him a friend of the Palestinians.

Johnston, 44, was abducted by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza City on March 12 and has not been seen or heard from since then. He has been held longer than any other journalist.

Barghouti, the West Bank leader of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, is serving five consecutive life terms in an Israeli prison for his role in shooting attacks that killed four Israelis and a Greek monk.

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"From my cell, and in the name of 10,000 prisoners in the occupation jails, I appeal and call immediately for the release of journalist Alan Johnston, the friend of the Palestinian people," Barghouti said in a statement sent to reporters.

Last week a previously unknown Palestinian group claimed it had executed Johnston, but their claim has received no confirmation.

In his statement, Barghouti denounced kidnapping and attacks on civilians, saying they harm the interests of the Palestinians and their desire for statehood.

Barghouti, once an advocate of peace with Israel, emerged as a leader of the second intifada that began in 2000.

He was arrested in 2002 and convicted by a civilian court of involvement in fatal attacks.

Barghouti insisted he was a political figure and did not recognize the right of the Israeli court to try him.