Nicosia, Cyprus:
A leading former Jordanian royal aide was amongst numerous suspects arrested Saturday in a safety sweep, as the army cautioned a half-brother of King Abdullah II against damaging the country’s safety.
Videos posted on line showed a heavy police deployment in the Dabouq region close to the royal palaces, even though the former crown prince Hamzah bin Hussein stated he was confined to his property.
In a video the BBC stated it obtained from his lawyer, Prince Hamzah stated a quantity of his pals had been arrested, his safety removed and his web and phone lines reduce.
He denied becoming portion of “any conspiracy or nefarious organisation”, but stated the Hashemite kingdom had “become stymied in corruption, in nepotism, and in misrule” exactly where no-one was permitted to criticise the authorities.
Official news agency Petra named former close aides to the royal household Bassem Awadallah, chief of the royal court in 2007-2008, and Sherif Hassan bin Zaid amongst an unspecified quantity of suspects arrested.
Sherif is a title offered to these close to the royal household in Jordan.
The pair have been detained for “security reasons” right after a “close” operation, Petra stated, quoting a safety supply.
US closely watching
Hamzah is the eldest son of late King Hussein and his American wife Queen Noor. He has excellent relations officially with Abdullah, his half-brother, and is a common figure close to tribal leaders.
Abdullah had appointed Hamzah crown prince in 1999 in line with Hussein’s dying want, but in 2004 stripped him of the title and gave it to his personal eldest son Hussein.
The army denied Saturday that Prince Hamzah, who holds no official position, had been detained.
“What has been published about the arrest of Prince Hamzah is not true,” stated Joint Chiefs of Staff head, Major General Yousef Huneiti.
But the prince had been “asked to stop some activities that could be used to shake the stability and security of Jordan”.
A nation of 10 million folks, Jordan’s economy was currently suffering just before the Covid pandemic hit.
The Washington Post alleged the former crown prince was “placed under restriction” as portion of a probe into an alleged plot to unseat the king.
“The move followed the discovery of what palace officials described as a complex and far-reaching plot,” it stated, quoting a senior Middle East intelligence official.
The alleged plot “included at least one other Jordanian royal as well as tribal leaders and members of the country’s security establishment,” the US everyday added.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price stated Washington was “closely following” the events in its close regional ally.
“We are… in touch with Jordanian officials. King Abdullah is a key partner of the United States, and he has our full support,” he stated.
Upcoming centenary
Neighbouring Saudi Arabia reacted swiftly to developments in Amman.
“The kingdom stresses its full support for the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan … and for the decisions and measures taken by King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein to safeguard security and stability,” it stated.
Awadallah, a former finance and preparing minister educated in the United States, was close to the king but has also been a controversial figure in Jordan.
Before becoming royal court chief in 2007, he was head of the king’s cabinet in 2006.
He had been a increasing figure in Jordan playing a crucial function in pushing for financial reforms in the money-strapped nation till he resigned in 2008.
Awadallah stepped down right after coming beneath public criticism more than alleged interference in controversial political and financial difficulties.
Saturday’s safety sweep comes as Jordan prepares to mark one hundred years due to the fact the new kingdom then named Transjordan was established alongside Palestine beneath British mandate.
It declared independence in 1946, and in spite of getting small oil wealth, severely lacking water and repeatedly becoming rocked by wars on its borders, the kingdom has managed to survive the regional upheavals.
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)