GAZA CITY, April 24: A new Palestinian security leadership began a mission to end armed chaos on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Sunday after Mahmoud Abbas pushed key allies of the late Yasser Arafat into retirement. Two months after a purge of Arafat’s cabinet, his successor as Palestinian leader unveiled a new line-up at the helm of the streamlined security services on Saturday in a bid to further convince Washington of his reformist intentions.

Among those relieved of their duties as part of the reshuffle was Musa Arafat, a cousin of Arafat, who was head of national security in Gaza. Another member of the old guard, Gen Amin al-Hindi, was standing down as head of military intelligence.

The post of head of national security in the West Bank and Gaza went to Gen Suleiman Helef, while Gen Ahmed Abdel Karim was named as military intelligence chief and Gen Husni Rabaya as new national police chief.

All are seen as members of the so-called young guard, untainted by accusations of corruption.

Gen Rabaya said he was determined to draw a line under the chaos which currently prevails in large parts of the Palestinian territories where armed militants openly flout the authority of the security services.

“I am sure that we will succeed in imposing security because this is the demand of our people. They want to see the rule of law prevail,” he told a press conference.

“With a stable security situation, we can prove to the whole world that we are people who deserve respect and our own state.”

Mr Abbas made law and order a key plank of his election campaign in January when he pledged to reduce the number of security services from around a dozen to just three. The move was confirmed in a presidential decree this month.

Like Musa Arafat, Hindi is being given the title of military adviser to Mr Abbas in a sign of the Palestinian Authority president’s desire to avoid making unnecessary enemies.

Mr Abbas said he would present them with medals at a ceremony in Gaza.

“It is a mark of appreciation of their efforts,” he told journalists. “They have spent more than 40 years of their lives serving the nation and the people.

Mandur Nawfal, a political analyst and one-time adviser to Arafat, said pressure from the Americans for security reform was instrumental in Abbas’s decision.

Washington’s new security pointman for the region, Gen William Ward, has met Mr Abbas regularly in recent weeks.

Mr Abbas himself should hold talks with US President George W. Bush in the next few weeks where he hopes to secure both financial support and political pressure on Israel.

“Of course, even though these measures are an internal issue, we can also say that they have been taken in accordance with international suggestions,” said Nawfal.—AFP