Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas today vowed a crackdown on armed groups operating in Palestinian areas in order to smooth the way to a January 9 presidential election for a successor to Yasser Arafat.
Palestinian leader Mr Mahmoud Abbas
Mr Abbas also urged Israel to halt "aggressive" military action in the West Bank and Gaza to help him restore order before the vote in his first media interview since taking over as head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation after the death of Mr Arafat.
"Steps will be taken to end the public display or show of arms," Mr Abbas said, saying action would be taken before the election. "We have to move on to a new era.
"We will act firmly against anyone who violates the law so that we can make the citizens feel secure."
But in promising to tackle factional lawlessness, Mr Abbas left unclear whether security forces would curb militants preparing attacks on Israelis, a key demand of a US-backed peace plan envisaging a Palestinian state.
US diplomats set to meet Mr Abbas next week hope the election will install a moderate president mandated to talk peace with Israel. But without a crackdown on militants, Israel will be loath to ease army blockades or halt raids disruptive to a vote.
Mr Abbas said today that Palestinians faced a crucial test in preventing an internal slide into chaos after Mr Arafat, as rival factions jockey for power.
"This period is a test for the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people to show they are capable of establishing the independent Palestinian state," he said.
Talks between Mr Abbas and militant factions have so far produced no agreement for suspending suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis in a four-year-old Palestinian uprising.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas's nom de guerre) warned faction leaders that if there is no calm, Israel might use this as a pretext to hinder elections with military action," one official said. "They all signalled opposition to a truce unless Israel reciprocates."