Islamic Jihad slams Rice's call to disarm

Islamic Jihad rejected the call of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to disarm on Monday, saying disarming militants will lead to a civil war.

Mohammed Hindi, a senior Jihad leader, said in a press statement to reporters that any effort by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to disarm militants will foment internal clashes.

Hindi's remarks came in response to talks between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Rice earlier Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, during which Rice urged Abbas to disarm militants and crack down on "terror".

"Such discussions simply allow Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon greater scope in his aggressions against Palestinians and gives him the green light to increase his crimes in the Palestinian areas," Hindi said.

He urged the PNA to stand up to its responsibilities and not to believe in "empty" US promises.

Rice has extended her Mideast trip in a bid to push forward progress on Rafah crossing, on which Israel and the Palestinians are close to reaching an agreement to re-open the only exit for Gazans.

Source: Xinhua