Ramallah, West Bank, March 5, SPA -- Palestinian leader MahmoudAbbas said Saturday he could not impose law and order inthe Palestinian areas until Israel hands over control ofWest Bank cities and urged Israel to return to talks ontheir transfer. "We have no control on the ground," Abbas told a newsconference in Ramallah. Abbas said Palestinian forces would only be effective onceIsraeli troops leave. "Nobody can say we holdresponsibility for the situation because we do not have apresence in the cities," he said. Israel had promised to hand over five cities following theFeb.8 cease-fire declaration but suspended talks after aPalestinian suicide bomber killed five Israelis at a TelAviv night club last weekend. Abbas said the two sides must move ahead with transferringcontrol of the cities. "The Israelis have stopped thetalks and we call on them to resume the dialogue as soon aspossible," Abbas said.--SPA1524 Local Time 1224 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/244336