Israel PM denies prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian militants News
Israel PM denies prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian militants

[JURIST] Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert [official website; BBC profile] denied rumors Monday that a deal was underway to trade Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Cpl. Gilad Shalit [Wikipedia backgrounder], an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants since June 25 [JURIST report]. In a speech to parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee, Olmert said he heard of the negotiations from the press. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak [official profile; BBC profile] has said that negotiations were ongoing [JURIST report], but that no progress had been made. AP has more.

In related news, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan [official profile; JURIST news archive] announced Monday that Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to closed-door UN-led mediation to secure the release of the two captured Israeli soldiers whose July kidnapping sparked the latest round of violence in the region [JURIST news archive]. While Olmert's office has yet to comment, Israeli political sources deny the agreement had been reached [Reuters report]. BBC News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.