Israel's army chief, General Shaul Mofaz, said Tuesday there had been contacts with the Shiite Muslim group Hizbollah about a possible exchange of Israeli soldiers for Lebanese militants held in Israel.
"There was recently a first contact with Hizbollah," Mofaz said in an interview with Israeli army radio.
Mofaz did not elaborate on the form of contact with Hizbollah, which in October captured three Israeli soldiers from a disputed border area in a bid to win the release of Lebanese who have been held for years in Israel without charge or trial.
A Lebanese newspaper said Monday that German mediation has made progress in securing a swap of Lebanese detainees for the captured soldiers, with a deal due "within 10 days." -- JERUSALEM (AFP)
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