Crowds of Palestinians waving flags are welcoming home 550 Palestinian prisoners being released by Israel. It's the second and final phase of a deal that ensured the freedom of the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit earlier this year. Here's Yolande Knell.
巴勒斯坦大批民众挥舞旗帜,欢迎从以色列被释放的550名巴勒斯坦囚犯。这是那场使被绑架的以色列士兵沙利特获得自由的交易的第二也是最后一步。Yolande Knell报道。
There are street parties taking place in Ramallah and the West Bank and Gaza City to celebrate this release. But it doesn't carry as much drama as the first stage two months ago: most of the prominent Palestinian prisoners included in this exchange were freed then, and the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was seen in public for the first time in five years before he returned home to his family. Many of the Palestinians now being released from Israeli jails were serving light sentences.
拉马拉、西岸和加沙市都举行了街头派对,庆祝囚犯获释。但这次获释,不如两月前第一批释放更有戏剧性。上次的释放仪式上,巴勒斯坦重要囚犯和沙利特均获释,五年来,人们首次在公众场合见到这名以色列士兵,随后沙利特回家与亲人重聚。这次在以色列监狱获释的大部分巴勒斯坦囚犯所受刑罚都较轻。
President Asif Ali Zardari has returned home to Pakistan nearly two weeks after he flew to Dubai for medical treatment. The reason for Mr Zardari's treatment has not been disclosed. The president's extended absence prompted speculation in Pakistan that he might resign.