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By Wafa Amr

RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 26 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's internal security chief, who has been locked in a power struggle with Hamas, told Abbas he intends to resign but aides said the resignation was not accepted.

An Abbas aide said Rashid Abu Shbak told Abbas last week that he intended to step down but "President Abbas did not accept it at the time."

Another senior Abbas aide said: "President Abbas will not accept Abu Shbak's resignation."

Abu Shbak had no immediate comment.

Despite a two-month-old Palestinian unity government, the ruling Hamas Islamist movement and Abbas's secular Fatah faction fought fierce street battles earlier this month that killed some 50 Palestinians.

A new ceasefire appeared to be holding but tensions remained high.

Abu Shbak, a Fatah leader, clashed privately with the former Palestinian interior minister, Hani al-Qawasmi, in exerting control over the Palestinian security services.

Qawasmi later resigned the post and Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, have yet to announce a replacement.

Hamas gunmen attacked Abu Shbak's house in Gaza several times and killed six of his guards in this month's fighting.

"Abu Shbak was coming under a lot of criticism from Hamas and they wanted him removed in order to control security in the PA (Palestinian Authority)," a Palestinian security source said.

"He felt that if security is to be achieved without him in his position, he would resign," the source added. (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi)

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