Abbas nixes resignation of top security official

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' top security official in Gaza offered to resign, but Abbas rejected the idea, security officials said Saturday. The Islamic militant Hamas has repeatedly demanded the resignation of the official, Rashid Abu Shbak, accusing him of provoking the latest round of internal fighting. On Friday, Abu Shbak offered to step down, but Abbas vetoed the idea, according to officials in the Preventive Security Service, a security branch loyal to Abbas.