Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the resignation of one of his top security chiefs yesterday over a shooting attack on his Ramallah headquarters. Abbas asked West Bank Intelligence Head Tawfiq Tirawi to remain in his post to enforce law and order in the Palestinian areas, sources at the Muqata headquarters said. Tirawi earlier submitted his resignation after his organization was blamed for failing to control armed men, who went on a shooting spree at the headquarters and nearby restaurants in downtown Ramallah Wednesday night, causing extensive damage. In an attempt to solve the problem with the recalcitrant militants, Abbas has decided to incorporate them into the Palestinian security forces. He earlier ordered to arrest the perpetrators of the shooting spree, but no arrests were made yesterday. Observers said the president knows the militants would put up armed resistance against such arrests. |