Israel to return bodies of two Hezbollah fighters Monday

[papau]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/333123.html

Last Update: 25/08/2003 17:22

Israel to return bodies of two Hezbollah fighters Monday

By Haaretz Service and agencies



Israel handed over the bodies of Ammar Hammoud and Ghassan Zaatar, two Hezbollah fighters killed in clashes with the Israel Defense Force, to representatives of the Red Cross at the Lebanese border on Monday afternoon. A security source in Jerusalem, speaking on condition of anonimity, said that in exchange for the bodies, Israel would get information on the fate of some of the Israeli soldiers and citizens believed to be held by Hezbollah. "Israel will hand ver two bodies in exchange for information on Israeli hostages," an Israeli security source said before the handover.

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed would receive the bodies at 4 P.M. (1300 GMT) and would hand them over to family members. The organization stressed, however, that the move was not part of an immediate prisoner exchange deal. "This is definitely not a swap," said Antoine Bieler, ICRC head of delegation in Lebanon. "At least for today, this is a unilateral move from one side to the other." <snip>