Abbas seals Gaza-Egypt border

Middle East: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that Gaza's frontier with Egypt had been sealed six days after Israeli forces left the Rafah crossing and thousands of Palestinians swarmed into Egypt.

"The chaos that existed here is over," he stated during a tour of the Rafah area. Palestinian security forces closed the gaps in the border fence and 2,000 policemen were on patrol on the Palestinian side.

Mr Abbas was under great pressure from Israel and the US to assert control and prevent the smuggling of weapons and wanted men into the Strip.

He is keen to demonstrate he is a strong leader ahead of next January's legislative elections so as to secure a majority for the ruling Fatah party, which is under serious challenge from the Islamic Hamas movement.

Israel also demands he rein in and disarm Hamas ahead of the election. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said Israel would not assist the Palestinian Authority by permitting Palestinians to reach the polls in the West Bank if Hamas candidates stand. Foreign minister Silvan Shalom said it was "inconceivable" for Hamas to take part as long as it "was committed to the destruction of Israel". Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat retorted, "I urge the Israelis to stay out of our elections and our internal affairs, and not put their noses in this. Our election . . . will be a turning point toward political pluralism and toward maintaining law and order."

Palestinian legislator Kadoura Fares said Israeli intervention would strengthen Hamas and weaken Mr Abbas.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warned, "The election is a Palestinian affair and neither the occupation nor any other foreign player has a right to interfere in this election."

Muhammad Ghazal, a Hamas leader in the West Bank, observed, "Israel claims it is the only democratic state in the region, but it fights democracy in Palestine. If we win the Palestinian election, our top priority will be rebuilding economic, social and cultural life, rebuilding what Israel has destroyed. We are not thinking of destroying Israel."

The US, which disagreed with the Israeli approach, said it is up to the Palestinians "to resolve the fundamental contradiction of groups wanting to keep one foot in the political process and one foot in the camp of terror".