Israel has released more than 250 Palestinian prisoners, including six women and 11 minors.

Israel had agreed to the releases as a gesture of support to the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

However, no prisoners from Hamas, which is locked in bitter rivalry with Mr Abbas's Fatah, have been freed.

Many Palestinians are saying that freeing only 256 Palestinian prisoners out of some 10,000 is not enough.

Kissed ground

The Palestinians were taken from Ketziot prison in southern Israel to an Israeli checkpoint outside the West Bank town of Ramallah.

There they were transferred to Palestinian coaches for a journey straight to Mr Abbas's compound where the president is greeting the freed prisoners.

As they changed coaches, many of the former prisoners kissed the ground.

Others flashed the V for victory sign and waved Palestinian flags from the windows of the coaches.

"I only have three words to say: freedom, freedom, freedom," said Abdel Rahim Malluh, deputy leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the most well-known of the released prisoners.

He was the first to be greeted by Mr Abbas.

None of released prisoners is considered by Israel to have been directly involved in attacks that wounded or killed Israelis.

'Policy of division'

As the coaches arrived at the presidential compound they were greeted by a euphoric crowd of friends and relatives, many waving Palestinian flags.

The prisoner release was approved two weeks ago by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet.

Israel hopes to boost support for Mr Abbas whose emergency government based in the West Bank excludes the radicals of Hamas.

Last month, Hamas fighters overran the Gaza Strip, overcoming their rivals from Fatah.

"We're hopeful that the combined steps by the Israeli government and the Palestinian government can bring about a new period of co-operation and dialogue," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

Hamas says the release of Fatah-affiliated prisoners reinforces Mr Abbas' policy to deepen the divide between his organization and Hamas.

And other Palestinians say the number of prisoners released is too low.

About 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, most on security-related offences, but some have never been charged.

The last time Israel freed a significant number of Palestinian prisoners was in 2005, when almost 400 were released as part of a ceasefire deal.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian prisoners prepared for release at Ketziot prison in southern Israel