JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is trying to relax the criteria for releasing Palestinian prisoners, a move that could advance efforts to free a captured Israeli soldier, officials said on Monday.

"If we want to free prisoners and bring about the release of Gilad Shalit, we will have to broaden this."

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is traveling to Egypt on Wednesday to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Israeli media have speculated that the two men will, among other things, discuss a prisoner swap. E-mail to a friend