Sharon: Egypt's role is linked to releasing Azzam

The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has stressed that Egypt's role in the peace settlement is linked to releasing the Israeli spy Azzam Azzam.

During the weekly session of the Israeli government yesterday, Sharon explained that he had told the US President George W. Bush during their recent meeting last week in Washington that unless Egypt releases Azzam, who was convicted of spying for Israel and spent so far seven years in prison, Israel will not allow Egypt to join the peace process."