Report: Israel won't harm Hamas' No. 2 man

JERUSALEM, March 6 (UPI) -- Israel pledged to Egyptian officials not to harm Hamas' No. 2 official as part of prisoner swap talks involving a Israeli soldier, an Arab newspaper reported.

Omar Suleiman, head of Egypt's intelligence services, secured a promise from Israel not to harm Hamas' political bureau deputy Moussa Abu Marzouk during a visit he made last week to Gaza, London's Al-Hayat reported Friday.

The report said Suleiman said he wanted to expedite talks on a prisoner exchange involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since 2006, Harretz reported.

Palestinian sources told Al-Hayat that Abu Marzouk met with two Hamas officials, including armed wing commander Ahmed al-Jaabri, who is responsible for Shalit's welfare and who developed the list of prisoners Hamas is demanding be released in exchange for Shalit, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The newspaper said Israel refused to release the prisoners on the list and that no date has been scheduled for extended, indirect talks, the Post reported, adding it couldn't confirm the information.