Hezbollah is asking "a price" for information about whether two Israel Defense Forces soldiers kidnapped by the militant group in July are still alive, Britain's United Nations ambassador said Thursday.

Emyr Jones Parry's comment comes two days after Hezbollah's leader,
Hassan Nasrallah, said that "serious negotiations" were taking place over reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, whose capture provoked a 34-day war between the group and Israel.

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"They're asking a price for proof of life," Jones Parry said Thursday. He gave no details on what he meant by "price."

Nasrallah said in an interview on his group's television channel Al-Manar that an unidentified negotiator appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had been mediating between Hezbollah and Israeli officials.

Nasrallah would not provide details about the negotiations, but said: "We have reached a stage of exchanging ideas, proposals or conditions."

In Jerusalem on Wednesday, government spokeswoman Miri Eisin declined to confirm any indirect talks with Hezbollah.

"We don't comment about anything that has to do with the abducted soldiers," Eisin said. "Israel will do all it takes to get their release without hurting Israel's security."