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Hizbullah leader Nasrallah confirms prisoner swap

02/07/2008

The leader of Hizbullah has confirmed the Lebanese militant group will hand over two Israeli soldiers it is holding in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners.

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has said the captive exchange would take place within the next fortnight.

The Israeli government has voiced concerns that the two soldiers may already be dead, but the deal has nevertheless been ratified by ministers.

Speaking at a news conference in Beirut today, Mr Nasrallah said: "I officially announce that we accept this deal."

It has been reported that the deal has caused some unrest among Israeli citizens.

However, in Lebanon the news has been greeted with a positive response - even from prime minister Fouad Siniora who is a known critic of the Hizbollah movement.

A statement from the office of the prime minister reads: "The success of Hizbollah in the negotiations... is a national success for the party and for the struggle of the Lebanese because it secured national goals which Israel always refused to respect."