Hamas official denies meeting with Israeli academicians

Ahmed Yousef, a political advisor of Hamas-led government's Prime Minister Ismail Haneya, Monday strongly denied Israeli reports saying that he had met Israeli academicians in secret.

"These news are buffoonery and fables and have no basis to stand on," Yousef told reporters.

On Sunday, Israel's state-run television reported that Yousef met with Israeli academicians and financial experts behind closed doors in London.

Accusing the Israeli media of publishing lies and misleading information to "defame Islamists," Yousef asserted that "I have not met with Israelis and meeting them was not on my agenda."

As for the prisoners' swap deal, the advisor confirmed good progress, saying that under the mediation of Egypt, the parties concerned are close to the finalizing of the swap deal involving captured Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit and Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel.

"We might witness a solution to this issue with the formation of the new government," Yousef said, revealing that Hamas would still hold the position of the prime minister while other factions and professional independents would be ministers in the new government.

"I expect the new government would be announced in two weeks," he concluded.

Source: Xinhua