Israeli spy chief makes fresh bid to free soldier

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel says the head of its Shin Bet intelligence service is in Egypt as part of a fresh push for the release of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants since 2006.

A statement from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office says Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin and veteran prisoner-swap negotiator Ofer Dekel are in Cairo to meet senior Egyptian officials mediating between Israel and Hamas, whose allies hold Sergeant Gilad Schalit.

It says Diskin and Dekel traveled to Egypt Saturday "to make an additional effort" to try to get Shalit released. They planned to return to Israel on Sunday evening.

The statement says a special Cabinet discussion on their talks would be held Monday.