Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: AFP
Palestinian president left unguarded
Members of presidential guard arrested after mishap which left Mahmoud Abbas unguarded. Palestinian security forces deny report
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday discovered to his astonishment that he was without a bodyguard and even his drivers were absent. He was therefore compelled to drive his granddaughter, who wasn’t feeling well, to the Red Crescent clinic by himself, according to the al-Arabiya television network. As a result, 250 members of the presidential guard were arrested.
The network reported that the president's wife woke him when she discovered that the girl, who was staying with them, had a high temperature.
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Abbas quickly called security so they could prepare a vehicle to take the girl to hospital, but there was no answer. He then called the drivers, but here too he received no response.
The guard at the clinic was astonished to see the Palestinian president arrive alone. He rushed to call extra security guards who worked for the son of the president to keep watch over the president during his visit to the clinic.
al-Arabiya also reported that as a result of the serious security fault, 250 presidential guards were arrested.
Spokesman for Palestinian security forces Adnan al-Damiri denied the report and said the story was a fabrication intended to slander members of the Palestinian security forces who do their work faithfully and professionally.
