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Palestinians allow insurgents to carry arms, but with restrictions

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, March 22, 2005

RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has reaffirmed the right of insurgency groups to carry weapons.

But the PA Interior Ministry has imposed restrictions on the amount of insurgency weapons and their use, officials said. They said that so far the insurgency groups have not committed to observing the new regulations, Middle East Newsline reported.

Over the last week, the Interior Ministry distributed the regulations to hundreds of insurgents in the West Bank. They said the regulations set a limit of one weapon per insurgent.

The ministry said it would not allow insurgents to carry or load weapons in public. Another regulation required the insurgents to license firearms with the ministry.

Officials said the regulations did not set penalties for violators. They said the regulations would come in effect in April and in the first stage be limited to the West Bank.

It was not clear whether the regulations would apply immediately to the 40,000 PA police and security officers. Many insurgents also serve in the PA security agencies and use their weapons for criminal activities.

On Tuesday, the PA invited insurgents to join the security forces. Brig. Gen. Rashid Abu Shback, head of the Preventive Security Apparatus in the Gaza Strip, said PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas would allow insurgents wanted by Israel to join the Palestinian police.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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