Hamas on Monday arrested the spokesman of a shadowy group holding British reporter Alan Johnston, a move that could give it a bargaining chip to secure the Briton's release. Hamas has demanded that the Army of Islam free Johnston, who was kidnapped on a Gaza City street on March 12. Al-Maqdisi was arrested while trying to fire on members of a Hamas-allied security force, said Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official. The Army of Islam said in a statement that its spokesman was leaving early morning prayers. Abu Zuhri denied any link between al-Maqdisi's arrest and efforts to free Johnston. Al-Maqdisi, he said, «was arrested in a gun battle.» Johnston's disappearance is the longest of any Western journalist abducted in Gaza, the Associated Press reported.
