Senior Abbas security official detained in W Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sep 5 (Reuters) Israeli forces arrested a senior member of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's special guard at a checkpoint in the West Bank today, Palestinian security officials said.

Mahmoud Damrah, the West Bank commander of a group known as Force 17, was detained near Ramallah, the security officials said.

The Israeli army said it had no comment on the arrest.

Mr Damrah, also known as Abu Awad, has long been on Israel's most-wanted list. He has been accused of organising operations against Israel by the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a militant group allied to Abbas's Fatah party.

Mr Damrah, who was previously in hiding, recently emerged to take a more visible role as a senior security official for Abbas, Palestinian sources said.

Force 17 was set up as an elite unit to protect the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat when he was exile.

REUTERS SHB HT2138