Abbas vows to end armed manifestations before the elections

Chairman of the PLO executive committee Mahmoud Abbas vowed to take tangible steps in order to end all armed manifestation and put an end to the state of chaos in the Palestinian territories as well as to ensure calm before the presidential elections which are due on January 9th, 2005.

The Palestinian official did not make it clear whether he intends to push the Palestinian security forces to move against members of the Palestinian resistance, but he demanded the Israeli government to halt its military operations in the West Bank and Gaza so as the Palestinian Authority will be able to control international conditions.

Abbas, who survived an attack inside a tent of condolences for the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Gaza several days ago, loomed that he is ready to a certain move against the armed groups which are influential and "contribute in one way or another to escalating chaos," adding that the Palestinian Authority will not be lenient in implementing the law with any one in order to secure the life of citizens.

Abbas indicated that the Palestinian Authority will unite the rival security departments so as to implement by that a reform plan ever promised by Arafat, but he did not execute despite intensive international efforts.