Visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reviewed on Saturday with Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Youssef the security situation in the Palestinian territories ahead of the Israeli Gaza pullout.

According to a statement issued by the Interior Ministry after the meeting that lasted for about half an hour, the two discussed efforts by the Palestinian National Authority to reshuffle security forces and impose law and order so as to ensure security during and after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

"Youssef and Rice discussed the exerted efforts to implement Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to unify the Palestinian National Authority and end chaos," said the statement.

"The two sides also discussed the efforts to unify the Palestinian security apparatuses and make them stronger, as well as the preparations for the expected Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," it added.

The statement said Youssef told Rice that the Palestinian security forces were ready to take over the areas to be evacuated.

The Palestinian minister also urged Washington to press Israel to stop military actions and collective punishment against the Palestinians and halt settlement expansion and construction of the separation wall in the West Bank.

"Such Israeli actions are obstructing progress in the peace process and it is important for Israel to immediately implement the road map peace plan and resume peace negotiations," said the statement.

Rice, on her part, reiterated support to the PNA's efforts to impose law and order in the Palestinian territories, according to the statement.

The top US diplomat began a Mideast tour on Saturday to boost coordination between the Palestinians and Israel over the Israeli withdrawal from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank due to begin in mid August.

After meeting with Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday, Rice will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua