Mass prisoner release to bolster embattled Abbas

ISRAEL released more than 250 Palestinian prisoners yesterday, aiming to bolster embattled president, Mahmoud Abbas, in his power struggle with the Islamic militants of Hamas, which took control of Gaza by force last month.

Several thousand chanting, clapping Palestinians greeted the prisoners as their buses rolled into Mr Abbas’ headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Prisoners — almost all from Mr Abbas’ Fatah movement — were hoisted onto the shoulders of dancing supporters, before they performed noon prayers in a large, open-sided tent.