GAZA CITY, July 27: Palestinian Justice Minister Abdelkarim Abu Saleh on Sunday abolished the state security courts, the special military tribunals which have been accused of passing arbitrary verdicts.

Abu Saleh signed the abolition order for the courts, one each in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The measure, which the minister said had the approval of Yasser Arafat, forms part of a process of reforms being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority.—AFP