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Mid-East prisoner swap under way Mid-East prisoner swap under way
(9 minutes later)
Israel has started handing over the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters as part of a prisoner exchange with the militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli army has identified the remains of two soldiers handed over by Lebanon's Hezbollah as part of a prisoner swap, Israel radio says.
Earlier, Lebanon handed over two coffins said to contain the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006. The two soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, were captured in 2006, but it was not certain they had died.
The UN has confirmed that the remains are those of soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. In return, Israel is handing over five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.
Israel is carrying out its own DNA tests, after which it is set to release five Hezbollah prisoners. The capture of the two Israeli soldiers sparked a month-long war between Israel and the militant Hezbollah movement.
The Israeli soldiers' relatives broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins. The Israeli 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.
The prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawnThe prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawn
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.
Earlier, the Lebanese prisoners were 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.
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.
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?Germany's success as mediatorIn pictures: Prisoner exchangePRISONER 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?Germany's success as mediatorIn pictures: Prisoner exchange
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.
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.
Qantar controversyQantar controversy
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 killings were particularly brutal, making his release controversial in Israel.The killings were particularly brutal, making his release controversial in Israel.
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.
The leader of Lebanon's mainly Maronite Christian Free Patriotic Movement and former army commander-in-chief, Michel Aoun, said the swap proved Israel had been defeated.The leader of Lebanon's mainly Maronite Christian Free Patriotic Movement and former army commander-in-chief, Michel Aoun, said the swap proved Israel had been defeated.
"I believe today is the crowning glory of the [2006 Israel-Hezbollah] war... There is national unanimity to welcome the prisoners and the martyrs' bodies. Everything calls for optimism and a new revival in Lebanon," he said."I believe today is the crowning glory of the [2006 Israel-Hezbollah] war... There is national unanimity to welcome the prisoners and the martyrs' bodies. Everything calls for optimism and a new revival in Lebanon," he said.
But Ehud Goldwasser's father, Shlomo Goldwasser, said he was mystified by the Lebanese celebrations.But 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."I cannot understand what the Lebanese are so glad about and happy about," he said.
HAVE YOUR SAYI am deeply saddened by our present inept Israeli government at allowing such a preposterous and blatantly immoral dealGila, JerusalemSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYI am deeply saddened by our present inept Israeli government at allowing such a preposterous and blatantly immoral dealGila, JerusalemSend us your comments
"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.""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 was serving several life sentences for murder for attacking a civilian apartment block in Nahariya in 1979.Qantar was serving several life sentences for murder for attacking a civilian apartment block in Nahariya in 1979.
A policeman, another man and his four-year-old daughter were killed. A baby girl was accidentally smothered by her mother as she hid in a cupboard during the attack.A policeman, another man and his four-year-old daughter were killed. A baby girl was accidentally smothered by her mother as she hid in a cupboard during the attack.
Qantar has denied killing the older child, reports say.Qantar has denied killing the older child, reports say.
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.