Posted on 04/30/2002 4:29:33 AM PDT by blam
Dozens of Palestinians set to leave besieged church
Twenty-eight Palestinians are due to leave the Church of the Nativity.
It will be the largest single group to exit the besieged compound since a stand-off began nearly a month ago.
Palestinian negotiator Imad Natche says the agreement has been reached during talks with Israeli military officers at the Bethlehem Peace Centre.
Those leaving the church later in the day will include 27 civilians and one Palestinian policemen,said Mr Natche. Israel's army will verify their identities and then release them, he added.
About 50 people have left the church since the standoff began April 2. The largest group to come out at any one time was nine youths who left on April 25.
More than 200 people remain inside, including Palestinian gunmen, policemen and civilians, along with Christian clerics, monks and nuns.
Israel says all are free to go except the 20 to 30 gunmen it wants to arrest or send into permanent exile. The Palestinians have refused, saying the gunmen should be allowed to go to the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip.
Despite the latest breakthrough, Palestinian officials played down US assertions that the two sides were close to a comprehensive deal.
"We are still discussing the issue with the Americans and the British to find out the possibility for a breakthrough on this issue," said Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo.
"Our position is clear. We refuse to exile any of the people inside the church. We also reject the principle of the Israeli forces arresting them," he said.
Story filed: 12:13 Tuesday 30th April 2002
Israel says all are free to go except the 20 to 30 gunmen it wants to arrest put on trial or send into permanent exile
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