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| Hezbollah confirms prisoner swap | Hezbollah confirms prisoner swap |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group has said it will hand over two captured Israeli soldiers in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners. | The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group has said it will hand over two captured Israeli soldiers in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners. |
| Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah also said the group would provide information on missing Israeli airman Ron Arad. | Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah also said the group would provide information on missing Israeli airman Ron Arad. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he believes the two soldiers are dead. Hezbollah has not confirmed that. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he believes the two soldiers are dead. Hezbollah has not confirmed that. |
| Their capture triggered Israel's 2006 offensive against Hezbollah. Israeli ministers approved the swap on Sunday. | Their capture triggered Israel's 2006 offensive against Hezbollah. Israeli ministers approved the swap on Sunday. |
| Sheikh Nasrallah's comments - Hezbollah's first public confirmation of the deal - came as the UK government announced it was putting the group's military wing on its list of banned organisations. | |
| Cross-border raid | Cross-border raid |
| Mr Nasrallah said he expected the prisoner exchange to be completed within one to two weeks. | |
| Speaking at a televised news conference in Beirut, he said: "I officially announce that we accept this deal." | Speaking at a televised news conference in Beirut, he said: "I officially announce that we accept this deal." |
| The two soldiers' capture triggered a war between Israel and Hezbollah | The two soldiers' capture triggered a war between Israel and Hezbollah |
| Reports say Samir Qantar, who has been in jail since 1979 for his part in a deadly guerrilla raid, will be among the Lebanese prisoners handed over by Israel. | Reports say Samir Qantar, who has been in jail since 1979 for his part in a deadly guerrilla raid, will be among the Lebanese prisoners handed over by Israel. |
| An unspecified number of Palestinians are also expected to be released from jail in Israel. | An unspecified number of Palestinians are also expected to be released from jail in Israel. |
| In addition, Mr Nasrallah said Israel had agreed to return the bodies of dozens of Lebanese and other fighters. | In addition, Mr Nasrallah said Israel had agreed to return the bodies of dozens of Lebanese and other fighters. |
| Responding to the UK government's decision to place Hezbollah's militant wing on a list of illegal organisations, Mr Nasrallah said he considered it "an honour" showing the group was "on the right path". | |
| The BBC's Wyre Davis, in Beirut, says many Israelis have expressed their discomfort about the exchange, which in the Arab world is being widely portrayed as a victory for Hezbollah. | The BBC's Wyre Davis, in Beirut, says many Israelis have expressed their discomfort about the exchange, which in the Arab world is being widely portrayed as a victory for Hezbollah. |
| The release of Qantar is particularly controversial in Israel, our correspondent adds, because of his role in the deaths of three Israelis, among them a young girl. | The release of Qantar is particularly controversial in Israel, our correspondent adds, because of his role in the deaths of three Israelis, among them a young girl. |
| Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were seized in a cross-border raid into Israel, triggering a 34-day war between Israel and the Hezbollah movement. | Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were seized in a cross-border raid into Israel, triggering a 34-day war between Israel and the Hezbollah movement. |
| Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. | Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. |
| He was seized in June 2006 during a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange. | He was seized in June 2006 during a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange. |