Homeland Security

DATE=12/14/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CQ JORDAN / ARRESTS (S-O)

NUMBER=2-297455

BYLINE=TETIANA ANDERSON

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: Jordan has arrested two men suspected of gunning down a U-S diplomat over a month ago in Amman. Tetiana Anderson reports from Cairo that Jordanian officials say (Saturday) the men are part of the al-Qaida terrorist group.

TEXT: Jordan's information Minister Mohammad al-Adwan said the main suspect is a Libyan, Salem Sa'ed Salem bin Suweid, who shot the diplomat. His Jordanian accomplice, Yasser Fathi Ibrahim waited in the car, the minister said.

The two were arrested by security authorities. Mr. al-Adwan told CNN that the men confessed to all their crimes and to ties with the al-Qaida network.

A government statement reportedly said one of the men trained with al-Qaida and entered Jordan on a forged Tunisian passport.

The information minister also said that the two were hunting for targets and that the diplomat, Laurance Foley, must have been an easy one. Mr. Foley was a high-ranking employee of the U-S Agency for International Development. He was shot several times outside his home in Amman on October 28. (Signed)

NEB/GL/TA/RH