Israel to release Palestinian prisoners as Rice visits

Israel on Monday will release nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners, including two convicted murders, according to the government.

The prisoner release -- which will coincide with a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- is a "confidence-building measure" and an effort to "energize the peace process" with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev.
The Israeli Cabinet approved the release a week ago, after outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas agreed on a list of names.