* Mid-East group debates Blair role The Quartet of Middle East mediators is considering naming Tony Blair for a top peacemaking post, diplomats say.

* Olmert agrees to free Palestinians The Israeli prime minister has announced he is prepared to release 250 Palestinian prisoners as a show of support for Mahmoud Abbas.

* Russia presses Nato over shield Russia has urged Nato to avoid any steps that could undermine Russia’s security, at the start of discussions on several thorny issues in Moscow.

* Netanyahu: Prisoner release a ‘mistake’ “This is a wrong, harmful message that will not strengthen the Palestinian Authority. It will only weaken it,” Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu said.

* Turkey unhappy at EU talks delay Turkey has said it is not satisfied with the EU’s reasons for not opening membership talks in the area of economic and monetary policy.

* Pope restores office dealing with Muslims Pope Benedict XVI on Monday restored an office that specializes in relations with Muslims.

* Germany bans Cruise film shoot from military sites Germany has barred the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist.

* Yadlin Warns What Happened In Gaza Will Happen in Judea, Samaria General Amos Yadlin, Chief of Military Intelligence told participants at a Jewish Agency conference in Jerusalem Tuesday that Israel should not withdraw from Judea and Samaria.

* Analysis: The anti-Hamas alliance gathers in Sharm The four leaders who met at this Red Sea resort on Monday all have one common enemy: Hamas.

* Mideast Quartet envoys meet in Jerusalem The four powers sponsoring the stagnant Middle East peace process met Tuesday for the first time since Hamas seized Gaza.