Palestinian crackdown on gunmen rescinded

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian officials backed away yesterday from a pledge to crack down on gunmen who shot up Mahmoud Abbas's office building, underlining the difficulties authorities face in restoring order in the chaotic West Bank.

The Palestinian leader was in the building but unhurt in the gunfire late Wednesday. He ordered his forces to go after the gunmen, who security officials said had ''crossed a red line" by attacking the seat of government. But in the light of day, officials adopted a conciliatory line, and one even admitted they feared coming under armed attack.

Under a compromise, the gunmen will be allowed to rejoin their former units in the security forces.

Late yesterday, West Bank intelligence chief Tawfik Tirawi called Abbas and threatened to resign unless more is done to restore the rule of law, a senior Palestinian security official said. Abbas has vowed to bring law and order to Palestinian areas and to overhaul his overlapping and corruption-plagued security forces.

The task is difficult. More than four years of conflict with Israel have badly weakened the forces. Many militant cells have begun acting like street gangs, using their weapons and positions to accumulate power, which they are reluctant to cede to Abbas.

Under a truce declared Feb. 8, Israel handed two West Bank towns back to Palestinian security control. The agreement was for five towns, but Israel halted the process, charging that Palestinian security has not carried out a pledge to disarm fugitives.

The truce has almost completely quelled Palestinian-Israeli violence and has focused attention on internal Palestinian problems.

Abbas met with a group of militants Tuesday, asking them to disarm, abide by the truce with Israel, and return to normal life.