Bush: Abbas must stop terrorism

U.S. president urges Palestinian Authority Chairman to crack down on terrorism; praises Sharon for pulling settlers out of Gaza
Reuters

President George W. Bush stepped up pressure on the Palestinians one day after a suicide bomb attack, urging Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday to show the courage to crack down on terrorism.

Terror in the South

Security guards avert disaster / Anat Barshkovsky

Suicide bomber strikes outside central bus station in southern town of Be'er Sheva Sunday morning; bus driver suspects terrorist, informs security guards. Bomber detonates himself prematurely after being spotted; two guards seriously wounded, close to 50 people treated for shock

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Bush praised Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for pulling Jewish settlers out of Gaza, saying this was a first step toward creating a democracy for Palestinians.

"It took political courage to make that decision," Bush said during a speech in El Mirage, Arizona.

"And now it's going to take political courage by the Palestinians and ... Abbas to step up, reject violence, reject terrorism and build a democracy," he added.

Abbas condemns suicide bombing

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up and critically wounded two guards at an Israeli bus station on Sunday in the first such attack since the eviction of Jewish settlers from Gaza and part of the West Bank.

The terror groups Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction, said they carried out the attack in response to Israel's killing of five Palestinian gunmen three days ago.

Abbas condemned the suicide bombing, calling it "A terrorist attack" in a statement issued by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.