"Until now, Israel has not voiced its serious intention to evacuate the strip. If there were an evacuation, it would start by the beginning of next year," Abu Shbak told reporters.   He said that Egypt will send its security experts to help train Palestinian security cadres once Israel approves Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan.

   "It would be too soon to send the Egyptian security experts and advisors if the plan has not been ratified, but if Israel approves the plan, Egypt will send these expects but no date had been set yet," he said.

   Asked about the Palestinian security plan on administrating the Gaza Strip after the Israeli evacuation, Abu Shbak said that the plan has to be first approved by leader Yasser Arafat.

   "All the plans whether formulated by the security apparatuses orthe national security council have to be ratified by Arafat, and what has been presented recently by a number of security chiefs are only drafts," he said.

   Abu Shbak, meanwhile, refuted reports that Arafat had designated Mohamad Dahlan to take over security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip.

   "No presidential decree has been issued," he said.  Enditem