PALESTINIAN "GUNMAN" SHOOT ARAFAT'S INTELLIGENCE CHIEF

Gaza Gunmen Shoot Palestinian Intelligence Chief
GAZA (Reuters) - Gunmen ambushed the commander of the Palestinian intelligence service in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, wounding him, killing two bodyguards and fueling fears of spreading chaos. Brigadier-General Tareq Abu Rajab was acting boss of the General Intelligence Service since its head resigned last month amid unprecedented Palestinian unrest over demands for anti-corruption reform. Rajab, 58, was close to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, but was not widely seen as taking sides in a power struggle that pits younger leaders -- who say they want change -- against an old guard accused of graft and failing to win a state.

SEE ALSO: In Wednesday's incident, gunmen opened fire at a convoy carrying the deputy Palestinian intelligence chief, seriously wounding him in the chest and killing two bodyguards. Abu Rajab was transferred to an Israeli hospital for treatment. (HEADS UP FROM ART SIEGEL).