Amid unconfirmed reports that Israel may hand over security control over some West Bank cities to the Palestinian Authority, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday met with the commanders of the Palestinian security forces to discuss preparations for deploying policemen in the areas that are expected to be delivered to the Palestinians.

At the meeting in Ramallah, which was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, Abbas instructed the security chiefs to be ready for assuming control over some cities in the West Bank, a senior PA official told The Jerusalem Post.

According to the official, Abbas instructed the security commanders to come up with an urgent plan for enforcing law and order in the cities, which include Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem and Hebron.

"He told them that he is determined to put an end to lawlessness and chaos and that they must carry out their duties," he added.

The official expressed hope that the cities would be handed over to the PA within the next few days, citing the success of the deployment in the Gaza Strip in reducing the number of rocket attacks against Israel.

Meanwhile, Abbas told the London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat that he is determined to wage a campaign against officials implicated in financial corruption. "All those responsible for corruption or linked to it will be held accountable," he said.

"There is one law for all and it will be implemented. Everyone will be subjected to the law. No one will be above the law. I will ask the attorney general to take the necessary measures in this regard."

He also vowed to put an end to the "chaos of weapons" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "Only policemen and security personnel will be allowed to carry weapons," he said. "We will also work towards margining the security forces into three organizations."

Asked if he was planning to get rid of all of Yasser Arafat´s former advisors and aides, Abbas said: "Thos of them who are good and are capable of serving the people will stay." (© 1995-2005, The Jerusalem Post 01/27/05)