RAMALLAH, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Monday rejected the proposal made by visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to assign a US security coordinator to assist Palestinian security forces in reining in militants.

    Hassan Youssef, Hamas spokesman in the West bank, declared in a statement that the group rejected Rice's proposal "since the Palestinian issue is not merely a security case."

    "Turning the Palestinian issue to a security case is supporting the Israeli logic and the Israeli agenda," said Youssef, adding "the Palestinians want not only security but also their rights, an independent country as well as the refugees' right of return."

    The Hamas spokesman also called on the Palestinian peace negotiators not to accept the US and the Israeli agenda.

    In addition, Youssef asserted that there will not be any ceasefire if Israel continues assault in the Palestinian territories and holding Palestinian prisoners in its jails.

    He also urged Egypt and Jordan to support the Palestinian cause and shun mediating between the Palestinian people and the Israeli "occupation forces." Rice said after meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah that she has proposed to both Israel and the Palestinians that a US securitycoordinator would be assigned "to help the Palestinians rehabilitate their security apparatuses and observe their performance."

    She pressed the Palestinians and Israel to "seize the opportunity" to advance peace process and build direct security cooperation and coordination.

    Abbas has been trying to end attacks on Israelis by deploying Palestinian police forces in the Gaza Strip since he was elected new Palestinian president last month. Enditem