Officials: Abbas Fires Gaza Commanders
By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas fired top Gaza security commanders Thursday, Palestinian security officials said, hours after militants fired dozens of mortar shells and homemade rockets at Jewish settlements there.
The officials said on condition of anonymity that Abbas dismissed Brig. Gen. Abdel Razek Majaidie, chief of public security, and two other senior commanders. The officials gave no other details.
The report came after Abbas ordered security forces to stop militants from firing mortars and rockets at Jewish settlements in Gaza. Despite a cease-fire declared Tuesday, Hamas militants fired more than 30 mortars and rockets at settlements Thursday, causing no casualties or damage.
Abbas is committed to reforming the competing and overlapping Palestinian security forces. Last month, he ordered that more than 1,000 veteran officers be retired.
02/10/05 10:17
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