SYRIA/HAMAS RIFT OVER HOSTAGE?

Report: Assad sought soldier's release (YNet)
Independent Palestinian website PNN reported Wednesday evening of a stormy meeting held recently between Syrian President Basher Assad and senior Hamas leaders in Damascus. According to the report, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal was ordered by Assad to release kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

The report, which so far does not have confirmation in other sources, says that Mashaal and other Hamas top figures rejected Assad's demand, and left Damascus for Algeria. PNN says conversation between Assad and Mashaal was held after the Air Force sent warplanes to carry out a flyby over the palace of the Syrian president in Latakia.

According to the internet site, Assad asked Mashaal to offer a solution to the crisis, to release the soldier, and to respond positively to the Egyptian mediation efforts, but the head of Hamas in Syria rejected the request and left the Syrian capital for Algeria together which his family and deputy Musa Abu Marzouk, and Marzouk's family. Most of Hamas' politburo members also left Damascus.