A Haitian gang that kidnapped a group of American and Canadian missionaries is asking for US$17 million - or US$1 million each - to release them, according to a top Haitian official.

Justice Minister Liszt Quitel told Reuters that talks were under way with kidnappers to seek the release of the missionaries abducted over the weekend outside the capital, Port-au-Prince, by a gang called 400 Mawozo.