Abbas calls for end to kidnapped soldier affair

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called for an end to the affair of kidnapped soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, and at the same time finding a solution to the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Speaking at a ceremony marking the end of the presidential guard training course in Gaza, Abbas said the Palestinian parties had agreed on Wednesday to a "calm" (tahdiya) and to refrain from activities that would, in his words, "encourage" an Israeli response.