Hamas surrounds kidnap hideout as Johnston's fate hangs in balance

Hamas's armed militias have intensified pressure for the release of the BBC correspondent Alan Johnston by taking up strategic positions around the populous Gaza City neighbourhood where the kidnappers are based.

A civilian was killed in an exchange of fire early yesterday afternoon between Hamas and residents of the small neighbourhood in Sabra district. Hamas blamed members of the Dogmush family - one of whom leads the Army of Islam which claims responsibility for the kidnap 16 weeks ago - for the death.

Hamas executive-force members guarded street corners and were deployed on roofs of high-rise buildings bordering the Dogmush neighbourhood. At the same time, contingents of the Army of Islam's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades, could be seen, dressed in black balacalavas, on side streets and wasteland close to the neighbourhood's west side.

In what appeared to be an increasingly concerted squeeze on the kidnappers, witnesses said that the Hamas forces had detained four more members of the family. There were unconfirmed reports that water and electricity had been cut off from some streets. In one street running through the neighbourhood, a concrete roadblock, apparently erected by Dogmush militants, was visible.

An Interior Ministry spokesman, Khaled Abu Hilal, said security forces "will not spare any efforts to free the British journalist". The Hamas radio station also broadcast a toll-free phone number, urging people to call in with any information on the case.

Witnesses said Hamas forces had been questioning members of the Dogmush family - whichruns businesses in the area and elsewhere in Gaza City - as they left the enclave. They were released and told to leave the area if Hamas forces were satisfied they had no involvement in the kidnap.

Hamas leaders have said they accept that only a minority are associated with the Army of Islam. They believe that professions of distaste for the kidnap by the mukhtar - the head of the neighbourhood - and other family elders are genuine.

On Monday, Ahmed Youssef , a senior aide to Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader who has refused to accept his dismissal as Prime Minister by President Mahmoud Abbas, appeared to threaten to invade the area. At least nine pro-Hamas students are also thought to be held there after being kidnapped earlier in the week. He said that the "safety of Alan" had been the main factor preventing a military operation and that "the British government does not want Hamas to use military action, but," he added, "we cannot hold the whole Gaza strip hostage to this situation."

The threat was not publicly repeated by Mr Haniyeh or other leading Hamas officials yesterday. However, one Hamas militant, Abu Suhaib, 20, deployed near a mosque in Tel al-Hawa district, 200 metres from the Dogmush area, said last night he was awaiting orders and was ready to enter the neighbourhood if instructed to do so. "You will see the journalist free tomorrow," he claimed.

Asked about the risk to Mr Johnston's life if force were to be used, Mr Suhaib said, in an implied counter-threat to Army of Islam members held by Hamas: "We have kidnapped some of them."

It was not clear as dusk fell if Hamas commanders were planning an armed operation or just steadily tightening the siege. The BBC and British Government have consistently called for Mr Johnston to be freed peacefully.

As a single shot rang out from the Dogmush neighbourhood, one resident in Tel al-Hawa, Nihad Nishuan, 27, said executive-force members had arrived at 5.30am yesterday to take over the high-rise rooftops. He said that all but four families had left an apartment building close to Dogmush houses to avoid being caught in any crossfire.

He added: "I believe they are going to free [Alan Johnston] which will be good for the freedom of journalists."

Two new green Hamas banners close to a hotel popular with journalists proclaim in English: "No More Threats to Our Foreign Vistors and Guests".