Quds city, June 2, SPA -- Israel began the release of about 400 Palestinian prisoners Thursday -- the second phase of the prisoner releases promised under a cease-fire agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. CNN said Palestinian prisoners began boarding buses from prisons in Israel for the ride to border checkpoints Thursday morning. About 500 Palestinian prisoners were freed in the first phase on February 21. Sharon and Abbas made their agreement in February at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The Israeli leader has said the prisoner release would strengthen the hand of Abbas, whom he has praised for making a "strategic decision to condemn violence and terrorism." --MORE 1140 Local Time 0840 GMT
