GAZA, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Former Palestinian interior minister Mohammed Dahlan on Monday played down expectations on the outcome of the upcoming summit between Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

    Dahlan, describing himself a realistic negotiator, said the summit, due to be held Tuesday in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, would be another round of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.

    "The summit will be a suitable place for announcing decisions and agreements including a mutual ceasefire with Israel," said Dahlan. "This time there will be witnesses to observe this announcement."

    Tuesday's summit, also to be attended by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah, is the first meeting between Abbas and Sharon since the two met in June 2003.

    Under the mediation of US President George W. Bush, Abbas, then the Palestinian prime minister, hammered out a truce deal with Sharon in Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba, which was only to be shattered by the vicious cycle of violence.

    Dahlan confirmed that a joint committee was formed to examine the prisoners' issue, saying Palestinian Minister for Prisoners Affairs Hisham Abdel Razeq will "reconsider the Israeli conditions for releasing prisoners."

    Last Thursday, in a goodwill gesture, the Israel decided to release 900 Palestinian prisoners, with the first batch of 500 to be set free right after Tuesday's summit and the rest over three months.

    However, Israel refused to release Palestinians with "Israelis' blood on their hands", referring to those who were involved in deadly attacks on Israelis.

    The Palestinian side demanded more and a wider scope of prisonerbe released. Enditem