Palestinian-Israeli swap deal to be finalized today

The Islamist group Hamas has freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from more than five years in captivity, handing him over on Tuesday to Egyptian officials who will shortly pass him on to the Israeli authorities, a Hamas military source told Reuters.

There was no immediate confirmation from Egypt or Israel that Shalit had been released. As part of a carefully orchestrated prisoner swap, Israel was due to free 477 Palestinian prisoners during the day, with a further 550 set for release at a later date.

On the other hand, Egypt's government is stepping up security at Cairo airport as it prepares to fly Palestinians freed under a prisoner exchange with Israel out of the country, an Egyptian intelligence source said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Palestinians are being freed in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit under the deal between Gaza's Hamas Islamist rulers and the Israeli government. Cairo airport raised security to emergency level as it prepared to transport 40 of the Palestinians to three countries as part of the swap deal, the intelligence source said.

The source said the prisoners were being sent to Turkey, Syria and Qatar and that their travel formalities were being overseen by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.