U.S. WANTS REDUCTION OF PA FORCES

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has pressed the Palestinian Authorityto reduce the size of its security force. U.S. officials said the Bush administration has urged PA ChairmanMahmoud Abbas to consolidate the 13 security agencies and significantlyreduce the size of the overall police and security force. They said WhiteHouse envoy Gen. William Ward was overseeing the U.S. effort.