Palestinian leaders Thursday urged all factions to maintain unity to end chaos and restore calmness in the territories.

Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), reached agreement with factions on ending chaos in the territories as soon as possible.

According to sources Thursday, Abbas called on the factions and security departments to cooperate in a bid to end the anarchy and the spread of illegal arms in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

A statement issued by the PLO Executive Committee said that during meetings between Abbas and the factions, Abbas stressed theneed to cooperate to end the security deterioration.

"This cooperation would achieve security for residents and help enforce law, justice and discipline," the statement said.

It said the factional leaders, including those from the radical movement Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), had positively responded to the call for cooperation.

"Abbas had a clear commitment to setting up democratic Palestinian institutions and condemning all kinds of internal fighting and the deterioration of security and the spread of guns," it said.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said the group's leaders had informed Abbas that they were ready to cooperate, but the group refused to stop armed attacks against Israel.

The armed resistance is only targeted at Israeli occupation, said Abu Zuhri.

On the same day, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Ahmed Qurei called on all political factions to unite and achieve a complete political partnership.

He told reporters that all the Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups, recognize that they must work together to ensure a peaceful vote.

Some Palestinian officials asked international monitors to help with their upcoming presidential elections. The request was made before US Secretary of State Colin Powell and foreign ministers from Britain, Russia, Spain and Germany will visit the region.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Thursday that during Powell's visit to the Palestinian territories next week, the PNA will urge the United States to help resume the peace process.

"We would discuss with Powell the resumption of the stalled peace process and guaranteeing financial and logistic support to ensure the success of the Palestinian elections scheduled for Jan.9," he said.