Hamas minister freed by Israel-witnesses (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Hamas minister freed by Israel-witnesses
29 Nov 2006 20:41:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

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By Wael al-Ahmed

JENIN, West Bank, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Israel on Wednesday released one
of the Hamas government ministers it detained after gunmen from the Gaza
Strip abducted an Israeli soldier in June.

It was not immediately clear whether the release of Palestinian Public Works
and Housing Minister Abdel-Rahman Zidan of Hamas was linked to a possible
prisoner exchange deal following a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip over
the weekend.

A spokeswoman at the Israeli Prime Minister's office said the release was
ordered by a military court. She offered no other details.

The release of Zidan coincided with a visit to Israel by Egyptian intelligence
chief Omar Suleiman for talks on a possible deal that would include Israel's
release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the captured
Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit.

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Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29578926.htm