Mubarak-Peres to discuss Hamas prisoner deal

EGYPT: Israeli President Shimon Peres arrived in Egypt on Thursday for talks with President Hosni Mubarak on Middle East peacemaking and Cairo's efforts to broker a prisoner swap with Hamas.

Peres, who was welcomed by Mubarak amid pomp and ceremony in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, said he would seek Egypt's help to win the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by Gaza militants more than two years ago.

The two leaders will also discuss Israel-Palestinian peace talks which have been put on the backburner as Israel awaits the formation of a new government following the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has been struggling to set up a new coalition government to replace Olmert who resigned last month to battle a string of corruption scandals.

Israel and the Palestinians relaunched peace talks last November at a US-hosted conference with the ambitious goal of reaching a deal by the end of 2008, but most observers believe that is unlikely.

An Egyptian official said the meeting will also focus on a Gaza truce between Hamas and Israel brokered by Egypt in June and due to expire in December.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Thursday, AFP