Israel agrees to free 170 Palestinian prisoners

JERUSALEM - Israel has agreed to free 170 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to Egypt for freeing a convicted Israeli spy and to show goodwill ahead of a Palestinian election, officials said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet gave its approval in principle last week.

His office said the prisoners would be released in days.

Israel had said that it would not free prisoners with "blood on their hands" - those who had been jailed for planning or carrying out attacks that killed Israelis.

Israel Radio said that 120 of the prisoners to be freed were from the dominant Fatah movement. The others were caught inside Israel illegally.

It said the Shin Bet domestic security service had ruled out the release of a further 30 Islamist prisoners whose names had originally been proposed.

- REUTERS