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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 be containing the bodies of two Israeli soldiers have crossed from Lebanon into Israel. Red Cross vehicles carrying two coffins said to contain the bodies of two Israeli soldiers have crossed from Lebanon into Israel.
The capture of the two men in a cross-border raid in 2006 sparked a war. Israel is carrying out DNA tests to confirm their identity, before handing over five Hezbollah prisoners it holds.
Israel will carry out DNA tests on the bodies to confirm their identity before releasing five Lebanese prisoners. The capture of the two men in a 2006
The process of confirming whether the bodies are those of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev could take several hours. cross-border raid sparked a 33-day war.
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
The relatives of the soldiers broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins. 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.
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.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese prisoners have been taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border.Meanwhile, the Lebanese prisoners have been taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Israel will also hand 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.
Eldad Regev (left) and Ehud Goldwasser were captured 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.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.
Eldad Regev (left) and Ehud Goldwasser were captured in 2006 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.
Speaking to the cabinet before its vote, Israeli President Shimon Peres said: "This is not a happy day for any of us, to release murderers such as these. But we have a moral and soulful obligation to bring our soldiers home."
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.
After the vote, Mr Peres pardoned Qantar and the other four Hezbollah prisoners, the first formal step ahead of their release, his office said in a statement.
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.
Qantar's imprisonment was arguably a catalyst for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, our correspondent says, as Lebanese militants kidnapped 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.
It has taken two years and cost the lives of more than 1,100 Lebanese and nearly 160 Israelis, but now the exchange of Lebanese militants and Israeli soldiers is finally being made, he adds.
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Missing Arad 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.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had previously described Qantar as the last bargaining chip for word on the fate of Ron Arad. name="say">
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An Israeli air force navigator, Ron Arad disappeared after bailing out of his craft during a bombing run on Lebanon in 1986.
Under the prisoner swap arrangement, Hezbollah last weekend handed over documents about the navigator, including two previously unseen photographs.
However, Israeli authorities said the documents were unsatisfactory and provided no new information about Mr Arad's wellbeing.