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PA FORCES LAUNCH MUTINY

GAZA CITY [MENL] -- Palestinian security officers have staged what appeared to be their first mutiny in the Gaza Strip.

More than 130 security officers stormed a position of the praetorian guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in Dir Al Balah on May 31 in what they termed was a protest against corruption in PA security forces. The officers, members of the National Forces, demanded that Arafat launch reforms in the security forces.

So far, Palestinian sources said, the National Forces unit captured a position of Arafat's Force 17 in Dir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip and expelled Arafat loyalists. The National Forces unit is the biggest of the PA security forces, with more than 14,000 members.

The mutineers have demanded the dismissal of PA security chief Maj. Gen. Abdul Razik Al Majaydeh. The National Forces officers allege that Al Majaydeh has siphoned off money and supplies meant for PA officers and has refused to command PA forces to battle Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. They said PA forces have been struck by a severe shortage in ammunition and supplies.

NOTE: The above is not the full item.

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