Gaza, May 20 (SPA) -- A TOP PALESTINIAN SECURITY CHIEF AND LOYALIST TO PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS WAS WOUNDED IN AN APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON SATURDAY WHEN AN ELEVATOR HE WAS TAKING AT HIS HEADQUARTERS IN THE GAZA STRIP EXPLODED. ONE OF GENERAL INTELLIGENCE CHIEF TAREQ ABU RAJAB’S AIDES WAS KILLED IN THE INCIDENT, REUTERS REPORTED. RAJAB WAS TAKING AN ELEVATOR SURROUNDED BY A PHALANX OF BODYGUARDS AND AIDES WHEN IT EXPLODED, APPARENTLY WHEN A BOMB PLANTED IN THE LIFT SHAFT WAS DETONATED, SECURITY SOURCES SAID. ABBAS IMMEDIATELY ORDERED AN INQUIRY BE ESTABLISHED TO "INVESTIGATE THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST THE HEAD OF GENERAL SECURITY TAREQ ABU RAJAB ... AND TO SPEEDILY PUNISH THOSE BEHIND THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT". --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/362362