31.   In the arrival statement earlier, Zoubi downplayed the prisoner issue, calling it a secondary one.

32.   Israeli and Palestinian officials are expected to discuss the prisoner issue later this week.

33.   It has called for a demonstration next Saturday in San Sebastian to press the prisoner issue.

34.   Israel said it never made such a pledge, and accused the Palestinian Authority of incitement over the prisoner issue.

35.   Kuwaiti government officials were not immediately available for comment, but Kuwait has long-supported U.S. and international involvement in resolving the missing prisoner issue.

36.   Legislator Hassan Khreishe, who had tried to organize a debate on the prisoner issue, was disappointed Thursday.

37.   Like many Palestinians, much of her anger about the prisoner issue is directed toward Arafat, whom many accuse of abandoning the prisoners during peace negotiations.

38.   Now the prisoner issue has led to the latest setback in peace talks.

39.   Opposition leader Ariel Sharon seized on the security prisoners issue within hours.

40.   On Friday, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Iraq was refusing to cooperate with his envoy on the missing prisoners issue, Yuli Vorontsov.