250 Palestinian inmates to be freed

Israel approved yesterday the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners in a bid to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas Islamists who control the Gaza Strip.

The prisoners, a fraction of the 11,000 Palestinians held by Israel, will be released in the occupied West Bank, where Abbas's government holds sway, before next week's Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, officials said of the decision, which was approved by Israel's Cabinet.

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had promised to free the prisoners during a meeting earlier last month with Abbas, who launched peace talks with Israel a year ago after Gaza's violent takeover by Hamas.