Germany's role in Israel-Hizbullah prisoner swap

Iran's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has denied an Egyptian news report about a German role in an imminent prisoner swap between Israel and Lebanon's Islamic resistance Hizbullah, DPA reported today.

There is no basis for such relevant reports, said Steinmeier after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Zipi Livni in Berlin.

He added, "We are not in such a situation." Steinmeier pointed out that there had been no request from Israel and Hizbullah for such a prisoner swap.

Egypt's government-owned daily al-Ahram reported over the weekend on a German-brokered deal between Israel and Hizbullah which is to take place within the next three weeks.

Germany played a lead role in a prisoner swap in a January 2004 agreement which saw Israel exchange some 429 Arab prisoners for the release of an Israeli businessman captured by Hizbullah and the remains of three soldiers.