Shalit's chain themselves in front of Prime Minister's residence to protest lack of action in prisoner swap

The Shalit family have chained themselves to each other and are sitting on the road outside the residence of Prime Minister Netanyahu to mark the fifth anniversary of Gilad Shalit's abduction by Hamas.

Dozens of activists also blocked the road leading to the Prime Minister's residence.

Shalit's father Noam told the large numbers of press gathered there "we have been a captive family for five years, half a decade that Gilad has spent in terrible lonliness without contact with the outside world. The time has come for the government , who sent him on a mission , to bring him home."

Shalit's parents, his brother Yoel and girlfriend tied themselves to each other with iron chains and threatened to stay in front of the Prime Minister's home "as long as needed".

Throughout the days hundreds of supporters arrvied at the Shalit tent in Rehavia to mark the five years since the kidnapping. Activists blocked the street at times, showing signs which read "Mr Prime Minister, can one return from capitivity only in a coffin?"

Meanwhile Defence Minister Ehud Barak has denied accusations made by Zvi Shalit, Gilad's grandfather, , who claims that Barak has accepted Hamas' position on the prisoner swap deal. The grandfather wrote a letter to Barak that was read out at a rally Saturday where he said that Barak has told him he clearly supports the deal proposed by Hamas, but that Prime Minister Netanyahu is opposed and cannot be persuaded otherwise." (22,00)