The top official in the Lebanese branch of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Abbas Zaki, recommended Thursday that PLO Arabs set up their own security force in refugee camps in the north of the country.

The move, said Mr. Zaki, would help prevent formation of terrorist groups in Nahr al-Bared and other refugee camps. The PLO made the suggestion in the wake of fierce fighting this week between the Lebanese army and an al-Quaeda-style terror group, the Fatah al-Islam, which was entrenched in Nahr al-Bared.

Mr. Zaki made the recommendation after briefing Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on the situation in the north. Mr. Abbas cancelled a meeting this week with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the wake of intense attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and military response by the IDF.