Abbas demanding militant leaders uphold truce

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet today with militant leaders to push them to honor a days-old cease-fire marred by mortar and rocket attacks on Israeli targets, according to an aide.

The Islamic militant group Hamas said it would only stop attacks when it was satisfied Israel would release prisoners and stop pursuing militants.

Abbas' planned meetings with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad faction were the latest sign of his commitment to keeping intact the cease-fire he and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared Tuesday to end 4 1/2 years of bloodletting.

On Thursday, he fired top security commanders after Hamas bombarded Jewish settlements in Gaza with mortars and rockets. And the central committee of his Fatah movement announced a state of emergency in the Palestinian security forces in an effort to prevent new attacks.

Abbas aide Taeb Abdel Raheem said the Palestinian leader's meetings with the militant factions would take place tonight. Asked if Abbas would ask the factions to commit to a cease-fire, Abdel Raheem replied: "I think there is a responsibility, and all the factions should show their responsibility in this sensitive and crucial era."

Hamas is interested in a truce, but on condition Israel halt all raids against the militants and release prisoners, spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

"Hamas still wants a truce but needs this truce to be with Israeli obligations," Abu Zuhri said.

Israel pledged Tuesday to cease all its military activity against all Palestinians everywhere. It has also promised to release 900 of the 8,000 Palestinian prisoners it is holding, and signaled a willingness to release more.

Cabinet Secretary Hassan Abu Libdeh said Abbas would inform Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders that "the Palestinian Authority will not tolerate any actions that will sabotage the agreement reached with Israelis on a mutual cease-fire."

Abbas has said all the Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have signed on to the truce, but leaders of the two, responsible for dozens of suicide bombings that have killed hundreds of Israelis, deny that.

Israel praised Abbas' swift actions, but warned it had only limited patience before it would take matters into its own hands.