Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has named three new leaders for the security forces and forced hundreds of their men into retirement, pushing aside top commanders in Yasser Arafat's old guard. The shake-up on Saturday brings Abbas closer to meeting Israeli and US demands for reform of corruption-plagued security forces, also criticised by ordinary Palestinians for failing to maintain law and order. Brigadier General Suleiman Helles was named national security forces commander to replace Moussa Arafat, a Gaza strongman who is a cousin of the late Palestinian leader. Abbas replaced Palestinian intelligence chief Amin al-Hindi with his deputy, Tareq Abu Rajab. Ala Hosni was named as the new police chief. Hundreds of other security personnel were forced out under a new law requiring staff to retire at 60, including dozens of senior officers, among them 11 with the rank of major general. "Today they are giving a wonderful new example by the smooth and civilised transfer of responsibility and authority," said senior Abbas aide Tayeb Abdel-Rahim in a statement.