Abbas expels terrorists from Muqata

RAMALLAH - Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas expelled a group of terrorists Thursday from his West Bank headquarters who had been given refuge by Yasser Arafat, a spokesman for the group said. Abbas ordered the 26 out after half a dozen of the terrorists - from his ruling Fatah faction - fired at his Muqata compound in Ramallah overnight while he was inside and then rampaged through the city, damaging shops. No casualties were reported. The 26, on an Israeli wanted list of 70 members of the Fatah-affiliated al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, had defied his demands to lay down their arms under peace moves he had agreed with Israel. The flare-up in Ramallah began after security commanders met representatives of the 70 earlier in the week to press them to put aside their weapons. Abbas had allowed the 26 to stay at his headquarters after Arafat's death in November despite Israeli criticism. Arafat gave them refuge at the height of a 4 ½ year-old Palestinian uprising. A spokesman for the 26 said all the terrorists had left the compound on Abbas' orders and had gone to hiding places in Ramallah, the West Bank's political and commercial hub. It was not immediately clear if they took their weapons with them. Militants’ demands Some of the terrorists had refused to disarm, saying they wanted better job and pay guarantees as well as assurances of their safety, officials said. Israel has pledged to stop hunting them if they disarm. Six of the terrorists vented their anger by carrying out the shooting spree, the officials said. "We wanted our voice to be heard," one of the terrorists told Reuters. "We want our rights and we want protection." In another sign of lawlessness plaguing the Palestinian territories, an angry crowd burned down tents used as offices by Palestinian police in the West Bank town of Tul Karm after police shot and wounded three suspects. "Abbas has issued an order to prevent any security violations and harm to citizens' property," said a spokesman for the Palestinian chairman. "Security units have been deployed to prevent further attacks." Abbas, elected in January after Arafat's death, is struggling to impose law and order and reform corruption-tainted security forces after reaching a cease-fire deal with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last month. He has so far used dialogue instead of confrontation in his dealings with terrorists. Abbas has complained some senior Palestinian officials are blocking his reform efforts and has even suggested he might have to postpone an expected meeting with U.S President George W. Bush in April, Fatah officials said. Israel handed over two West Bank cities to Palestinian control earlier this month but then froze the process, saying Abbas had not done enough to disarm hundreds of terrorists on Israel’s wanted list.

Abbas expels terrorists from Muqata

The al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorists fire at Muqata compound overnight after they had been pressured to lay down arms; Abbas says he may postpone April meeting with Bush