Abbas names tough new Palestinian security chief

GAZA - President Mahmoud Abbas has named a tough new commander for Palestinian internal security who helped lead a 1990s crackdown on Islamic militants, officials said.

The appointment of Rashid Abu Shbak as head of preventive security - to monitor political groups and track down collaborators with Israel - further strengthens Abbas's hand after ousting top officers who were loyal to Yasser Arafat.

Reforming the corruption-ridden security forces is a step toward meeting US and Israeli demands and could strengthen prospects for peacemaking that have already grown since Abbas was elected president to replace the late Arafat in January.

A Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman said the reforms would help forces impose order. Palestinians complain of growing chaos - some linked to militant factions, some to criminals.

"People will soon begin to feel tangible results," said Tawfik Abu Khoussa.

In a sign of the challenges faced by Abbas and Abu Shbak, Gaza Strip militants fired two rockets into southern Israel on Tuesday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which caused no casualties or damage.

The rocket fire strained a cease-fire Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared on Feb. 8. Major Palestinian factions agreed to a "period of calm" till the end of the year but some splinter groups said they were not bound by the deal.

ABBAS CONDEMNS ROCKET ATTACKS

After the attacks, Abbas told reporters: "These are chaotic acts and violate the national consensus. They do not serve the Palestinian cause and they must be stopped by all means."

Abu Shbak, a senior officer in the ruling Fatah movement once jailed by Israel, was previously the head of preventive security in Gaza. He was a deputy to local strongman Mohammad Dahlan in a 1996 crackdown on militants.

Israel has said Palestinians must dismantle armed groups if there is to be any progress on talks and Sharon has accused Abbas of failing to mount a "real fight against terrorism."

Abbas says he prefers dialogue to confrontation with the factions.

Small signs of discontent over Abbas's security reforms have emerged from former officers after he named new heads for national security, intelligence and police at the weekend and forcibly retired hundreds of men over 60.

"The political leadership, in making these changes, aimed to distance themselves from responsibility over the deterioration of security and lay the blame on those who retired," said former police chief Saeb al-Ajez, who resigned following an attack on a Gaza prison in February.

"I do not believe that changing security leaders will end the deteriorating security conditions."

- REUTERS