Mubarak said Olmert had wanted to release prisoners

On the Palestinian cause, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised him to release a great number of Palestinian prisoners. All of a sudden, things just escalated in the Palestinian territories, he said Tuesday to "Al-Mesaa" newspaper.

The President called on the Palestinian factions to be more wise and reasonable and act to serve the Palestinian people's interests.

Asked about Egypt's quota of the Nile water, Mubarak said such a matter was agreed upon and nobody could prevent Egypt from getting its water quota.