Jordan.
Jordanian authorities said on Sunday that they had dismantled a plot to “destabilize” the kingdom, in which Prince Hamza bin Hussein, King Abdullah’s half-brother, was involved, and that they had arrested several suspects.
Hamza, Crown Prince until 2004, and other people were in contact with a foreign force to “destabilize security” in Jordan, Deputy Prime Minister Aiman Safadi said.
King Abdullah II of Jordan’s half-brother Prince Hamza, 41, announced on Saturday that he had been placed under “house arrest” at his palace in Amman, after being charged by the army with activities. against “security the kingdom.”
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In a video sent to the BBC by his lawyer, the Jordanian prince said the army chief of staff was at home and told him he “could not leave”. He denied taking part in a plot and accused his country’s authorities of “corruption” and “incompetence”.
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi stated that the security services “had been following for a long time the activities and movements of Prince Hamza bin Hussein, Cherif Hassan ben Zaid and Basem Awadalá (former adviser to the king) and other people against the security and stability of the homeland. “
“Investigations have made it possible to monitor interventions and contacts with foreign parties to destabilize Jordan’s security,” he continued.
Hamza is the eldest son of King Hussein and his American wife, Queen Noor. According to the wishes of his father, who died in 1999, he was named crown prince when Abdullah became king. But in 2004, Abdullah II withdrew the title and gave it to his eldest son Hussein.
Safadi noted that between 14 and 16 suspects had also been arrested.
According to him, the security services advised King Abdullah II to transfer all the people involved to the State Security Court.
“Resentment”
On Twitter, Queen Noor on Sunday denounced a “slander” and said she “prayed that truth and justice would prevail for all innocent victims.”
In a statement, Jordanian Chief of Staff General Iussef Huneiti said Prince Hamza had been “called upon to stop activities that could be used to undermine the stability and security of the kingdom.” but denied his arrest.
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“No one is above the law. Jordan’s security and stability come first. All the measures that were taken were within the framework of the law and after a thorough investigation,” he added.
A Jordanian analyst, who declined to give his name for security reasons, said that lately Prince Hamza “had increased his criticism of what he calls government corruption among his circle of friends”.
According to him, “there is a certain resentment on his part, because he never ended up losing the title of Crown Prince.”
The Kingdom of Jordan, which will celebrate its centenary on April 11, is a small country that has no natural resources and is heavily dependent on foreign aid.
Washington and the Gulf allies were quick to express their support for the pro-Western government of Amman, seen as a stabilizing pillar in the Middle East.
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In the United States, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the development of the situation was being followed “very closely.”
“King Abdullah is a key ally of the United States, and he has our full support,” he added.
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also showed their support for the Jordanian king and all measures taken to ensure country stability.
Egyptian President Abdel Fatah in the Sisi also telephoned the king and assured him of “his full solidarity” and “full support”, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.