Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat this morning appointed a new police chief for the Gaza Strip and a cousin to head the national security forces in the area after kidnappings by gunmen demanding reforms.
Major-General Saeb al-Ajez said he received orders from Mr Arafat to replace police chief Ghazi al-Jabali, who was abducted and freed on Friday by gunmen who accused Jabali of corruption.
Mr Arafat also announced in a statement the appointment of Major-General Mussa Arafat as head of the national security forces in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Authority declared a state of emergency in Gaza this morning as a sense of growing anarchy gripped the tiny territory following the kidnapping of four French aid workers and two Palestinian officials.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Ahmed Qurie called an emergency cabinet session for later in the day to discuss Gaza's descent into chaos, fuelling talk his government might resign or be forced out.
"It is a decisive meeting that will discuss the fate of the government," said cabinet secretary Hassan Abu Libdeh.
The four French, seized by Palestinian gunmen demanding sweeping reforms President Mr Yasser Arafat has resisted, were freed unharmed.
The abductions reflected a growing challenge to Mr Arafat from militants trying to strengthen their position before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon carries out a planned withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005.
"A state of emergency has been declared in the Gaza Strip as of early this morning to deal with the state of chaos there," a senior security official said. Media reports said security was increased around Palestinian Authority institutions.
The four French nationals were abducted while drinking coffee in a restaurant in the town of Khan Younis on Friday. They were taken to the local Red Crescent building, where militants fired from windows to ward off police.
The gunmen said they would let the hostages go only if Mr Arafat met their demands - rooting out corruption, implementing major political reforms and easing the hardships of the poor.
But after a few tense hours, the gunmen first released the two women hostages and then freed the two men.
Palestinian security officials said the abduction was carried out by militants from the Abu al-Rish Brigades, which is linked to Arafat's mainstream Fatah group.