Palestinians cancel summit with Israel to protest limited release of prisoners

A PLANNED summit between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers fell apart yesterday as a US-backed peace plan stalled over a Palestinian shooting attack and Israeli plans for a limited prisoner release.

The Palestinians reacted with scorn over Israel's announcement that it would release 440 Palestinian prisoners yesterday. The Palestinians want more freed and say the list contains few long-serving detainees.

In protest, they called off a summit set for Wednesday between premier Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinian sources said. Israeli sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the talks were cancelled. They denied Israeli media reports that the Israeli side pulled out of the meeting because of the shooting attack, which wounded four Israelis.