Palestinian group says no deal to free BBC reporter

DUBAI, June 17 (Reuters) A Palestinian militant group holding BBC reporter Alan Johnston today said there was no deal to free the Briton abducted in Gaza three months ago and said he would only be released if its demands were met.

''Freeing this detainee has not been part of any deal with any faction or organisation. What appears on television screens and through the media here and there is untrue,'' a man identified as a spokesman for the Army of Islam in Gaza told Al Jazeera television.

''If they do not meet our demands there will be no release for that detainee and if things become more difficult ... then we would seek God's satisfaction by slaughtering this journalist,'' said the spokesman, identified as Abu Khatab.

The British Foreign Office said such statements only caused distress to Johnston's family and friends. The BBC said it was aware of the statement and other reports from Gaza today.

An official of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip last week, said earlier in Tehran Johnston would be released within hours. But as the clock ticked by another senior Hamas member counselled caution.

In Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh -- who Hamas says is Palestinian prime minister despite President Mahmoud Abbas swearing in a new premier -- visited the house of a Palestinian engineer who was kidnapped by a clan for nearly a year and then was released by Hamas.

''I hope there will be similar news about the abducted journalist Alan Johnston. We are acting effectively and in a serious manner,'' he said. ''I hope this file will be closed and that Alan can go back to his family safe and sound.'' In a June 1 video, the group holding Johnston repeated its demand for Britain to free Muslim prisoners, particularly the Islamist cleric Abu Qatada.

''There are negotiations (for Johnston's release),'' Abu Khatab said, masked and surrounded by gunmen.

''...But we are interested in the main point, which is this detainee will not be released until they meet these demands, or what could be agreed upon (the release of) other detainees other than (Abu) Qatada,'' he said.

Johnston, 45, the only Western correspondent based full-time in Gaza, was seized on March 12.

None of several foreigners seized in Gaza in recent years has been harmed. None has been held as long as Johnston, with most freed within days.

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