Egypt to send intelligence chief to Israel for truce talks

Cairo: Egypt will send intelligence chief Omar Suleiman to Israel for talks on a truce deal between Israel and Palestinian fighters, President Hosni Mubarak said on Sunday.

"I think the head of intelligence will travel there but after the holiday celebrations in Israel. He will go to talk to the Israeli side,'' Mubarak said without giving a specific date.

Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Palestinian militants and Israel. Last week, Palestinian groups held a meeting in Cairo to agree on a truce deal.

Egypt state news agency MENA has said the truce proposal is part of a broader plan that would eventually lead to the lifting of an Israeli blockade on Gaza.