The militants, belonging to the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades headed by Zakareya Zubeidi, fired into the air and then at Yousef's motorcade to force the minister out of the town, said witnesses.

The militants then besieged the building where Yousef held a security meeting with several high-ranking security and police officials, said the witnesses, adding that one police officer standing outside the building was injured by the gunfire.

Zubeidi claimed that the incident took place as Yousef arrived in Jenin "without coordinating with him."

In response, Yousef sacked the Jenin security chief and ordered Zubeidi arrested but later held a private talk with the local strongman of the brigades, an armed wing of the mainstream Fatah movement.

Zubeidi told reporters after the meeting that the problem was solved. "We have nothing against Yousef or the Palestinian National Authority but with the Jenin security chief, who ignored our group."

The new Palestinian cabinet, approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council on Feb. 24 and widely deemed as reform-minded, is facing an uphill battle to end the widespread chaos across the Palestinian territories.

Yousef, a former security official, has been assigned to take charge of the reforms of the Palestinian security forces to rein in militants.