Abbas dismisses head of security

Mr Shbak has been blamed by some for Fatah's defeat in Gaza

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed one of his highest-ranking commanders, following Hamas' takeover in Gaza last week.

Mr Abbas said on Friday that Rashid Abu Shbak had been stripped of his role as director of internal security.

No reasons were given but Mr Shbak has faced criticism for failing to stop the takeover, which effectively split the Palestinian territories in two.

Mr Shbak had held the post of director of internal security since April 2006.

Some within Mr Abbas' Fatah party hold both Mr Shbak and National Security Adviser Muhammad Dahlan, formerly Fatah's strongman in Gaza, responsible for the security services' defeat there.

But Mr Dahlan appears to have kept his job for now.

Mr Shbak, who is now in the West Bank, had been one of the Fatah security figures most strongly opposed by Hamas, because of his role in previous raids against them.

Last month Hamas men attacked his home in Gaza and killed a number of his guards.

In another decree on Friday, Mr Abbas ordered the Palestinian national security council to be dissolved.