Hamas leader to visit Cairo over prisoner: Egypt

Cairo, Oct 29: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal will visit Cairo for talks on an exchange of prisoners between Israel and the Palestinians, a senior Egyptian official said today.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman told a news conference that during the visit Egypt would also press its attempt to bring about agreement on a Palestinian government of national unity between Hamas and Fatah.

''Mr Meshaal has an invitation to come to Cairo ... The visit will tackle the issue of the prisoner exchange and the situation in the Palestinian and Israeli arena,'' Suleiman said.

He did not say when the visit would take place.

The rare appearance by Suleiman, who speaks to the media about once a year, seemed to indicate that Israel and the Palestinians could be close to a deal on prisoners.

Palestinian militants from Gaza captured an Israeli soldier on June 25 and have offered to release him in return for many hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

REUTERS