Haitian gang demands $17m ransom for kidnapped missionaries and children

Authorities are negotiating for their release but reluctant to pay money that will be used for more guns and more munitions'

A Haitian gang that kidnapped a group of American and Canadian missionaries has demanded a $17m ransom for their release, according to the country's justice minister.

Liszt Quitel told the Wall Street Journal the FBI and Haitian police were in contact with the kidnappers from the 400 Mawozo gang, who seized the missionaries at the weekend outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.