GAZA, (PIC)-- The PA caretaker government has denied intention to change the list of names of Palestinian prisoners to be released in return for the freedom of Israeli captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

Taher Al-Nunu, the government's spokesman, said in a press statement on Tuesday that Hamas does not differentiate between prisoners for their political affiliation.

He added that certain political parties tried to smear Hamas's position regarding Israel's release of a number of prisoners, adding that Hamas welcomes the release of any Palestinian prisoner and considers it a gain for the Palestinian people.

But, he noted, Hamas pointed out that Israel's release of only Fatah prisoners was meant to endorse division in the Palestinian arena. He emphasized, however, that such practice would not push Hamas into changing the names included in the list of prisoners it presented to the Egyptian mediator in order to be released in return for Shalit.

Meanwhile, Nunu further denied that the government's interior ministry had issued a decision banning Fatah leaders from leaving Gaza. He added that the report misunderstood the security and administrative measures taken by the ministry to regulate the travel of all citizens.

The spokesman stressed that anyone wishing to travel should register his/her name with the interior ministry, which a number of Fatah cadres do not comply with saying they do not recognize that ministry. He recalled that two of Fatah leaders left the Strip after registering their names.

19/08/2008