Last update - 00:00 16/09/2006
Haniyeh sees 'lots of movement' in talks on Shalit's release
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday there is "lots of movement" in negotiations over the release of an Israel Defense Forces soldier held by Hamas-allied militants.
However, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office told Israel Radio that while negotiations continue to broker a deal that would bring about the release of the soldier, so far no real breakthroughs have been made.
Haniyeh spoke before a meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials involved in the negotiations.
Corporal Gilad Shalit was seized during a cross-border raid in June.
United Arab List MK Talab al-Sana met with Shalit's family on Saturday and called on Israel and the Palestinians to hurry up and release their captives to "end the human tragedy."
Earlier this week, a Palestinian newspaper reported that Shalit's captors have handed a letter purportedly written by Shalit to Egyptian mediators who then delivered it to his family.
Shalit's father, Noam, declined to respond directly to the report, but said Friday he has received no sign of life from his son.
Haniyeh signaled Saturday that progress was being made. "There is a lot of movement on this issue, but I can't say until now that there is something specific to discuss," he told Associated Press Television News. "We want to listen to our Egyptian brothers."
Hamas demands the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in exchange for freeing Shalit.