Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reported progress in efforts to free kidnapped journalist

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reported progress in efforts to free kidnapped journalist

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reported progress in efforts to free a kidnapped British journalist, saying negotiators have persuaded the captors to reduce their demands.

Haniyeh said the kidnappers of British Broadcasting Corp. correspondent Alan Johnston initially had seven demands. "During debate, those demands were reduced to three," Haniyeh told reporters, confirming earlier reports that officials were negotiating with the kidnappers. He did not say what the remaining demands were.

Johnston was seized at gunpoint in Gaza City on March 12 and has not been seen or heard since then.