Palestinian official says int'l force in Gaza must not replace Palestinian forces

RAMALLAH, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official said on Thursday that any international force planned for deployment in the Gaza Strip should not serve as a substitute for the Palestinian security forces.

Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation Executive Committee, told Xinhua that "the Palestinian position is clear. Any international force should be established under a UN Security Council resolution and in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, rather than replacing or taking over the role of Palestinian security forces."

He said that the recent understandings reached with Hamas stipulated that the administrative committee responsible for managing Gaza "will be affiliated with the Palestinian government and headed by one of its ministers."

Al-Ahmad added that there is "a clear Arab consensus" on the necessity of maintaining Palestinian security forces in Gaza.

He also said that the training of Palestinian security personnel is continuing in both Jordan and Egypt "to prepare them to assume their responsibilities in the Strip," noting that "hundreds of personnel are currently undergoing specialized training programs." ■