[ad_1]
Jordanian security forces today arrested a member of the royal family, a former adviser to King Abdullah and others on “security-related” issues, the official Petra news agency reported.
Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that members of the security services had gone to the home of the king’s half-brother and former heir to the throne, Hamza, and were questioning him. However, it was clarified that he has not been detained. An official source also confirmed to Petra that Prince Hamza was not among those arrested.
The Washington Post reported that Jordanian authorities detained Hamza and arrested 20 other people in a case that involved a “threat to the stability of the country.”
In an attempt to consolidate his power, Abdallah stripped Hamza of the successor title in 2004.
Among those arrested is Basem Awadala, who for many years was the king’s confidante and later became finance minister. Sharif Hassan bin Zayed, a member of the royal family, and other unidentified people were also arrested. The agency did not provide further details.
Arrests of high-ranking officials and members of the royal family are extremely rare in Jordan.
Awadala, who has studied in the United States, has been the driving force behind economic reforms in his country. He resigned in 2008 as chief of staff of the royal court. For a long time it faced strong reactions from the old guard and the entrenched bureaucracy in Jordan.
Former heir to the throne “called” to avoid “destabilizing actions”
The half-brother of Jordan’s King Abdullah and former heir to the throne, Hamza bin Hussein, has been “called upon” to halt actions aimed at “security and stability” in the country, the army said tonight.
A statement from the Petra state news agency said the appeal was part of a larger ongoing investigation. Earlier, it was reported that a former minister, a member of the royal family and other anonymous people had been arrested.
“What has been reported about the capture of Prince Hamza is not true, but he has been told to stop activities aimed at ensuring the security and stability of Jordan,” said Army Chief of Staff Youssef Huneyti.
Two sources told Reuters that security men went to the prince’s home and questioned him, but did not arrest him.
The State Department said in a statement that King Abdullah “has the full support of the United States.” “We are closely monitoring the information and are in contact with Jordanian officials.” King Abdullah is a key partner of the United States and he has our full support, “said State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Saudi Arabia, the King of Bahrain, the Government of Egypt and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have also expressed their support and solidarity with King Abdullah.
