Jordan claims it foiled plot by former prince

Arrests over threat to national security

A SENIOR Jordanian official has accused the country’s former crown prince of conspiring with foreign elements in a “malicious plot” that threatened national security.

Foreign minister Ayman Safadi told reporters that the plot had been foiled at the “zero hour”.

“Then it was clear they moved from design and planning into action,” Mr Safadi said. He says some 14 to 16 people are under arrest.

Mr Safadi spoke a day after Prince Hamzah, a half-brother of King Abdullah II, was placed under house arrest, in a rare public clash between top members of the long-ruling family.

The unprecedented incident has raised concerns about stability in a country seen as a key Western ally in a volatile region and drawn an outpouring of support for the King.

In a videotaped statement from house arrest, Hamzah acmovements

cused the country’s leadership of corruption and incompetence.

Mr Safadi, who also holds the title of deputy prime minister, said intelligence agents had been observing the plotters for some time and raised their concerns with the king.

He said Hamzah was asked to “stop all these activities and that threaten Jordan and its stability,” but he refused.

Mr Safadi did not identify the foreign countries allegedly involved in the plot. But he said a long-time senior official who has business ties in several Gulf Arab states, Bassem Awadallah, was involved and had been planning on leaving the country.

The US, Saudi Arabia and Arab countries across the Middle East issued strong statements in favour of Abdullah.

The swift show of support underscored Jordan’s strategic importance. While the harsh criticism from a popular member of the ruling family could lend support to growing complaints about the kingdom’s poor governance, the king’s tough reaction also illustrated the limits to which he will accept public dissent.

Early on Sunday, Hamzah’s mother, Queen Noor, expressed sympathy for “innocent victims”.

“Praying that truth and justice will prevail for all the innocent victims of this wicked slander. God bless and keep them safe,” she tweeted.