Prisoners deal

JERUSALEM - Israel agreed yesterday to free another 90 Palestinian prisoners to try to bolster President Mahmoud Abbas before a US-sponsored conference on Palestinian statehood, officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Cabinet approved the release in principle after a two-week delay. A ministerial committee was to meet to approve the list.

Israel had been expected to release more than 100 Palestinian prisoners and it was not immediately clear why the number was cut back. The 90 prisoners are members of Abbas' secular Fatah faction.

- Reuters