Gaza City - The radical Hamas movement said Saturday it would not reduce its demand for the release of at least 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a captive Israeli soldier.

"Hamas has demanded the release of at least 1,000 prisoners who are serving long-term sentences," said Osama al-Muzini, a Hamas leader based in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, an Israeli ministerial committee agreed to release 450 prisoners in the first phase of the swap once Corporal Gilad Shalit is handed over to Egyptian mediators.

Gaza- The Islamic movement Hamas said Saturday it wants the formation of a national unity government to settle the political crisis which has divided Palestinians.

"Hamas favours a national coalition that can defend the Palestinian people and their rights," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom in Gaza.

Barhoom's remarks indicate Hamas is opposed to the idea of a government made up of technocrats that do not include members of the two largest Palestinian groups -
Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Gaza - Egypt opened its border with Gaza Strip on Saturday to allow the passage of Palestinians who want to perform minor pilgrimages to Mecca (Omra), stranded people and patients, Palestinian security sources said.

The Hamas-controlled interior ministry in Gaza said the Rafah border crossing would remain partially open until late Sunday. Palestinians stranded at the Egyptian side would also be able to cross to Gaza.

Except for occasional exceptions for humanitarian reasons, Egypt has kept the Rafah crossing closed since Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip by force last year.

Gaza- Two underground tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border used for smuggling collapsed Thursday, killing two Palestinians, medical officials said.

The fatalities were named as Ibraheem Zu'rob, 19 and Ahmed Slaikh, 23. Officials at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital said they were already dead when they were brought to the hospital.

Tunnel collapses under the Gaza-Egypt border have become more frequent of late as Egypt steps up its efforts to combat the smuggling of goods and weapons into the salient.

Gaza Cit