Milliband: UK hasn't softened demands on Hamas

Although Britain recognizes the role Hamas played in BBC journalist Alan Johnston's release, it remains committed to the quartet conditions for engagement with the group, British Foreign Secretary David Milliband was quoted as saying early Monday. In an interview with the British Financial Times newspaper, Milliband said that Britain's commitment to a two-state solution meant there was no flexibility on the quartet's principles, especially on the demand for the recognition of Israel. "To suddenly say that there's flexibility about one of the two states having been there at all, I think is not a sensible way of proceeding," said the British foreign secretary.