Palestinian President Abbas vows to impose order
Reuters
Date: 12-31-05
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Saturday to impose law and order after the kidnapping of three Britons and a surge of unrest that has challenged his authority and could delay elections.
"It is time to impose the authority of law and order," Abbas said in a New Year message broadcast on Palestinian television.
"These events ... harm our international credibility and strengthen Israel's pretext to undermine peace and stop withdrawals."
The three British hostages were freed late on Friday, two days after being seized by a group of gunmen in the latest embarrassment to Abbas's security forces.
"The national authority regards chaos and anarchy and challenges to the authority of law and order as dangers threatening the entire national project," Abbas said.
A top Palestinian official said earlier on Saturday that the kidnapping of aid worker Kate Burton, 25, could frighten away foreign observers coming to monitor the balloting.
"Maybe the reason behind such a despicable act, is to keep these observers out because some want to sabotage these elections," said chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Abbas has been under pressure from some officials in his ruling Fatah movement to delay the elections, in which divided Fatah faces a strong challenge from the Islamic militant group Hamas.
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