Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman
Photo: AP
Hamas's political chief Khaled Mashaal
Photo: AFP
Top Egypt envoy discusses Shalit with Mashaal
Hamas politburo chief, Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Suleiman discuss release of kidnapped Israeli corporal in return for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Suleiman visited Damascus on Saturday and met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hamas' political chief Khaled Mashaal, the London-based daily al-Hayat reported on Sunday.
Mashaal and Suleiman discussed a prisoner exchange deal with Israel by which hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be released in return for kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit, the London-based al-Sharaq al-Awsat reported.
Egyptian diplomats said that in talks with Assad, Suleiman sought to restore relations between Egypt and Syria after a spate of high tension.
Syria was irked by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent visit to Cairo, which Assad interpreted as part of Washington's attempts to isolate his regime.
Palestinian sources said Suleiman's meeting with Mashaal is part of Egypt's diplomatic campaign to ease tensions between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian territories where the two rivals have been entangled in bloody street confrontations.
Egypt, as well as international peace brokers, have been pushing for a Palestinian unity government between Hamas and Fatah that would recognize Israel and support peace talks with the Jewish State.
Suleiman "brought nothing new about the soldier (Shalit)," said a Palestinian official.
Egyptian officials added that Suleiman's visit comes following discreet talks between Damascus and Cairo about the renewal of peace talks and a Hamas demand that Egypt plays a more active in negotiations for Shalit's release.
"Hamas demanded from us to sort out internal division among the Palestinians and to renew Egyptian efforts to exchange the abducted Israeli soldier," they said.
The sources said Syria and Egypt intend to hold a summit in the near future.
