September 28, 2001

Palestinians Reject Arrest of Militants

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

AZA, Sept 27 (Agence France- Presse) — A senior Palestinian security official today ruled out the arrest of suspected Palestinian militants as demanded by Israel under an agreement to build a lasting cease-fire.

The Palestinian preventative security chief for the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Dahlan, was interviewed on Voice of Palestine radio about the list of more than 100 suspected militants presented to the Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat, who met on Wednesday with Shimon Peres, the Israeli foreign minister.

"Israel has a habit of presenting such lists accusing innocent people and Palestinian militants," Mr. Dahlan said.

"Several have nothing to do with what they are accused of and we will not go ahead with the arrests that Israel wants," he said.

Israeli public radio reported the existence of the list on Wednesday after Israel and the Palestinians agreed on a package of measures to end the violence and restore trust in the Middle East peace effort.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001