JERUSALEM, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Israel will release more than 150 Palestinian prisoners later this month as a goodwill gesture to president Mahmud Abbas as part of US-backed peace talks, officials said on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said the release came in response to a request by Abbas.

RAMALLAH, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Israel will release more than 150 Palestinian prisoners before the end of August to bolster US-backed peace talks, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP on Wednesday.

JERUSALEM, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Israel said on Wednesday that it will release Palestinian prisoners later this month as a 'gesture of goodwill' to president Mahmud Abbas as part of US-backed peace talks.

JERUSALEM, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Israel said on Wednesday it will release Palestinian prisoners by the end of August as a 'gesture of goodwill' after a request from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

GENEVA, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Switzerland's foreign minister is to fly to Colombia Sunday, for a diplomatic trip overshadowed by Bogota's opening of an investigation into an alleged ransom paid for FARC-held Swiss hostages.

BANGKOK, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush arrived Wednesday in Bangkok for talks with Thailand's prime minister and a separate meeting with Myanmar dissidents, before heading to Beijing for the Olympics.

Bush, who arrived after a visit to South Korea, was set to meet with Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for dinner, officials said.

JERUSALEM, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday, a week after the premier's announcement he would resign cast a cloud over peace negotiations.

The two were holding talks over a working lunch, Olmert's office said.

TOKYO, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Japan said Wednesday it will hold talks with North Korea in China next week, two months after Pyongyang promised to reinvestigate abductions of Japanese nationals to train its spies.

BANGKOK, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - President George W. Bush will seek to reassure Asian allies that Washington remains committed to trade and democracy in the region, in a speech set for Thursday on the eve of the Beijing Olympics.

In an advance copy of the speech, released Wednesday by the White House, Bush hails the 'Asian miracle' that saw economies blossom across the region.

BANGKOK, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - The United States opposes China's detention of dissidents and other activists, President George W. Bush will say Thursday in a pointed message on human rights on the eve of the Beijing Olympics.