Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has revealed that negotiations were still underway to solve the issue of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, Egypt's top-selling daily al- Ahram reported on Saturday.

In an interview with al-Ahram, Mubarak revealed that non- governmental organizations from both sides were involved in the efforts to reach a swap deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mubarak said that the Israeli side was waiting for an initiative from the Palestinians on the status of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, upon which a scheme would be drawn up to release Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.

On Friday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told a local TV that Egypt was continuing efforts to secure the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners at Israeli jails in exchange for the Israeli soldier abducted in Gaza.

Corporal Shalit, who turned 20 on Monday, was captured in a cross-border raid on June 25, for which three militant groups including Hamas' armed wing claimed responsibility.

The Palestinian militants want Israel to free Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit's release, something refused by the Israeli side in the past.

Three days after Shalit's capture, Israel launched its biggest offensive into Gaza since its withdrawal last year, which is still going on. Over 200 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in the offensive.

Source: Xinhua