GAZA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said on Saturday that he received promises that two kidnapped Fox News journalists would not be harmed, hours after a deadline ended without having demands of kidnappers met.

"There is a progress made on the issue of the journalists, and there are also promises not to be harmed," Haneya told Ramattan, a local Palestinian news agency.

    American reporter Steve Centanni and New Zealander cameraman Olaf Wiig were seized by unknown gunmen on Aug. 14.

Last Wednesday, a group called itself the Holy Jihad Brigades claimed responsibility for kidnapping the two journalists and demanded to swap them for Muslim prisoners held in the United States.

    Haneya confirmed he was personally involved along with his interior minister in following the case up, hoping the journalists would be freed in the coming hours.

    Earlier on Sunday, a spokesman for the Hamas-led government told reporters that there will be a "happy end" for the crisis of the kidnapped journalists. Enditem