Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says Israel will not release more Palestinian prisoners until Palestinians clamps down on militants.

Sharon made the announcement at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, hours before Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were scheduled to meet to discuss the releases.

Under a February truce, Israel agreed to release 900 Palestinian prisoners. It has so far released 500.

The truce also calls for Israel to hand over five West Bank towns to Palestinian security control.

But these steps reached an impasse early on, with Israel demanding that the Palestinians disarm militants. After withdrawing from two West Bank towns, Israel has frozen any further handovers.

(CRI.com May 9, 2005)