Hamas rejects Red Cross request to visit Gilad Shalit

Palestinian terrorists holding a kidnapped Israeli soldier refused to allow Red Cross officials to visit him, Hamas said Saturday. The Red Cross requested last week to visit Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas-linked terrorists more than a month ago in a cross-border raid.

A Red Cross official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the request was made in a meeting with Palestinian factions in Gaza. He said the request was denied without explanation. On Saturday, Hamas said such a visit was "not appropriate at a time when more than 10,000 Palestinian families are denied to visit their prisoners." (AP)