Hizbullah - Israeli progress in swap deal

A Hizbullah member of parliament has announced progress in negotiations for the swap of the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon in return for Lebanese detainees in Israeli jails.

Mohammed Fneish said Israel has offered to release 20 Lebanese prisoners as well as an unspecified number of bodies belonging to dead Lebanese guerrillas, in exchange for the body parts of the Israeli soldiers.

He added that Hizbullah was negotiating for the release of more prisoners, adding that a deal could be reached within two weeks if Israel agrees.

The Israeli soldiers were killed on September 5, during a botched commando raid in south Lebanon in which 12 Israelis died. Most of the bodies were taken by the withdrawing Israeli troops but Hizbullah held a press conference shortly after the incident during which it displayed Israeli body parts captured from the scene of the fighting.

Other body parts are believed to be with the Amal militia and the Lebanese Army.

"The current negotiations are focusing on the possibility of increasing the number of prisoners to be included in the exchange," Fneish said.

Last year, Hizbullah traded the remains of two Israeli soldiers for 45 Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons.