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Mid-East prisoner swap under way Mid-East prisoner swap under way
(30 minutes later)
An exchange of prisoners between Israel and the Lebanese militant movement Hezbollah is under way on the Israeli-Lebanese border.An exchange of prisoners between Israel and the Lebanese militant movement Hezbollah is under way on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Red Cross vehicles carrying two coffins said to contain the bodies of two Israeli soldiers have crossed from Lebanon into Israel. Israel is returning the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.
Israel is carrying out DNA tests to confirm their identity, before handing over five Hezbollah prisoners it holds. Earlier, Red Cross vehicles carrying two coffins said to contain the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006 crossed from Lebanon into Israel.
The capture of the two men in a 2006 cross-border raid sparked a 33-day war. Israel is carrying out DNA tests on the bodies. The capture of the two men in a cross-border raid sparked a 33-day war.
The prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawnThe prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawn
The relatives of the soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins. Israel is carrying out DNA tests to confirm the identity of the two Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, before handing over five Hezbollah prisoners it holds.
United Nations officials, who have carried out their own tests, have confirmed that the remains are those of the two soldiers.
The soldiers' relatives broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins.
Before the swap, it was unclear whether the two soldiers were alive or dead.Before the swap, it was unclear whether the two soldiers were alive or dead.
Some in Israel had held out hope that they might still be alive, but the images of two plain black coffins being delivered to the border told the soldiers' family what they had long suspected, says the BBC's Wyre Davies on the Israel-Lebanon border.Some in Israel had held out hope that they might still be alive, but the images of two plain black coffins being delivered to the border told the soldiers' family what they had long suspected, says the BBC's Wyre Davies on the Israel-Lebanon border.
PRISONER EXCHANGE From Hezbollah: Two Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad RegevFrom Israel: Five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Qantar, and the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters Who are the Mid-East prisoners? PRISONER EXCHANGE From Hezbollah: Two Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and the body parts of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon in 2006From Israel: Five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Qantar, and the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters Who are the Mid-East prisoners?
Meanwhile, the Lebanese prisoners have been taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Earlier, the Lebanese prisoners were taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Israel is also handing over the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters killed in northern Israel.Israel is also handing over the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters killed in northern Israel.
The exchange is being mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.The exchange is being mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
'Moral obligation''Moral obligation'
Lebanon has declared a national holiday to mark the swap, after which Israel will hold no more Hezbollah militants.Lebanon has declared a national holiday to mark the swap, after which Israel will hold no more Hezbollah militants.
Under the deal - the fruit of two years of delicate German mediation - Hezbollah is also to return the body parts of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon in 2006.Under the deal - the fruit of two years of delicate German mediation - Hezbollah is also to return the body parts of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon in 2006.
Eldad Regev (left) and Ehud Goldwasser were captured in 2006 The agreement has caused controversy in Israel, with some ministers opposed to the possibility of exchanging live Hezbollah prisoners for dead bodies. The agreement has caused controversy in Israel, with some ministers opposed to the possibility of exchanging live Hezbollah prisoners for dead bodies.
But Israel says it has a moral obligation to bring its soldiers home.But Israel says it has a moral obligation to bring its soldiers home.
Israel's cabinet gave its final approval for the prisoner exchange on Tuesday.Israel's cabinet gave its final approval for the prisoner exchange on Tuesday.
The Lebanese prisoners being freed include Samir Qantar, in jail since 1979 for a deadly guerrilla raid in which he killed three Israelis, including a child.The Lebanese prisoners being freed include Samir Qantar, in jail since 1979 for a deadly guerrilla raid in which he killed three Israelis, including a child.
The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says the exchange will be a moment of jubilation for Hezbollah, who are claiming the deal as a victory.The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says the exchange will be a moment of jubilation for Hezbollah, who are claiming the deal as a victory.
Ehud Goldwasser's father, Shlomo Goldwasser, said he was mystified by the Lebanese celebrations.
"I cannot understand what the Lebanese are so glad about and happy about," he said.
"They sacrificed over 700 of their best warriors and all their economy, and what they get for what they did is a murderer, a bloody murderer of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl and her father - and for this they are making all this glory, for this they sacrificed so much. So I feel only pity for them."
Qantar's imprisonment was arguably a catalyst for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, our correspondent says, as Lebanese militants captured the two Israeli soldiers to demand his release.Qantar's imprisonment was arguably a catalyst for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, our correspondent says, as Lebanese militants captured the two Israeli soldiers to demand his release.
What has this exchange achieved? Does the move support Israel's covenant with its military? Is this a victory for Hezbollah? Send us your comments using the form below.What has this exchange achieved? Does the move support Israel's covenant with its military? Is this a victory for Hezbollah? Send us your comments using the form below.
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