Palestinian PM Withdraws ResignationLast week, in an initial move to silence critics, Arafat agreed to consolidate his security forces into three branches, and on Tuesday he gave Qureia control over one of them.
by LARA SUKHTIAN
Jul 27, 11:13 PM EDT
Under the agreement, Qureia will have authority over the internal security forces - the police, civil defense and preventive security - while Arafat will control the Palestinian intelligence service and armed forces, Palestinian officials said.
Officials said Arafat also gave ground on corruption, agreeing to order the attorney general to open investigations against tainted officials.
But the accord failed to resolve the controversy over Arafat's appointment of his cousin Moussa Arafat as chief of security in Gaza. Moussa Arafat is widely accused of human rights violations and suspected of weapons and drugs smuggling.