Top Hamas leader due in Cairo for prisoner swap talks

            The Damascus-based head of the Hamas political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, is scheduled to hold talks this weekend in Cairo on a prisoner swap involving captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Hamas sources report difficulties in the ongoing contacts, although the discussions are continuing. Meshaal was due in Egypt on Tuesday but delayed his trip because of the death of his father in Jordan. Meshal's deputy, Mousa Abu Marzuk, told a German news agency that the German mediator involved in the contacts is serious in his efforts to clinch an agreement. Abu Marzuk revealed that one of the Hamas leaders in Gaza, Mahmoud A-Zahar, met 11 times in August with the German mediator. (21,08)