Israel frees nearly 400 Palestinian prisoners

Israel freed nearly 400 Palestinian prisoners yesterday in a long-delayed gesture that fulfilled a ceasefire pledge to President Mahmoud Abbas, but Palestinians said the release did not go far enough.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon acted under US pressure to help strengthen Mr Abbas, who faces a Hamas challenge that could undermine Israel's plans to evacuate Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip starting in August.

Smiling ex-prisoners flashed V-for-victory signs to cheering relatives as they stepped down from buses that carried them from Israeli jails to West Bank crossing points. Some knelt in prayer. Others kissed the ground. A few waved Palestinian flags.

In the Gaza Strip, crowds hoisted freed militants on their shoulders, mothers wept and gunmen fired in the air.

But jubilant homecomings were tempered by Palestinian complaints that the mass release was insufficient because it excluded longer-serving inmates.

Palestinians demand amnesty for all 8,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, but Israeli officials say they will not release any they describe as having "blood on their hands".

"I am happy to be free but thousands of others are still behind bars," Yousef Habas, 31, a militant who spent six months in jail, said as at Betunia checkpoint near Ramallah.

The release, first promised by Israel when Mr Sharon and Mr Abbas declared a truce in February 8 talks in Egypt, followed the announcement of a second summit planned for June 21.