Dispute over 30 Hamas prisoners delaying Shalit release

      London-based newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat on Saturday reported that the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is being delayed by a dispute over whether to free 30 Hamas prisoners. The agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that 450 Palestinian prisoners will be freed in exchange for Shalit. The exchange is to happen in phases: First, Shalit will be handed over to Egypt and Israel will release 350 prisoners, after which Shalit will return to Israel, and the final 100 Palestinians will be freed. The list of prisoners Israel has agreed to release is expected to include women, children, elderly and ill individuals, some of whom are serving sentences for serious crimes. Last week, a senior political source said that negotiations over Shalit's release are due to resume on Tuesday in Egypt. Ofer Dekel, Israel's chief negotiator for securing the release of abducted soldiers, will travel to Cairo to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. (18,30)