TEHRAN Four Palestinian prisoners of war, captured during the 1980-88 Iraqi impowsed war, were released Monday, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mahmoud Mohammadi announced here Tuesday. The Palestinian POWs were released following request by the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine, Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin who visited Tehran recently. The Islamic Republic of Iran in a humanitarian measure positively responded to a request made by the Hamas leader and released the four Palestinian POWs, Mohammadi added.

Hamas representative to Tehran and representative of Palestinian Embassy in Iran were present at the time the Palestinian POWs were released, he said. (IRNA)