DATE=2/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227049
TITLE=JORDAN / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JORDANIAN POLICE HAVE CLASHED WITH PRO-IRAQ DEMONSTRATORS
FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS MONTH. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS
ROBERTS IN AMMAN REPORTS JORDAN'S GOVERNMENT SAYS ONE PERSON WAS
KILLED AND THREE WERE WOUNDED IN THE INCIDENT IN THE TOWN OF
MAAN, ABOUT 250 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL.
TEXT: NEWS REPORTS SAY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER FRIDAY
PRAYERS WHEN A GROUP OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PRO-IRAQ DEMONSTRATORS
ATTEMPTED TO MARCH FROM THE MAIN MOSQUE IN MAAN TO THE CENTER OF
TOWN.
THEY WERE CONFRONTED BY JORDANIAN POLICE WHO WERE ENFORCING A BAN
ON PROTESTS THAT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS MONTH.
A STATEMENT FROM JORDAN'S INTERIOR MINISTRY DESCRIBES THE
PROTESTORS AS ADVENTURERS TRYING TO PROVOKE CHAOS IN THE KINGDOM.
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAYS ONE PASSERBY WAS KILLED IN THE
CONFRONTATION BETWEEN POLICE AND DEMONSTRATORS. THREE OTHER
PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE POLICEMAN, WERE INJURED.
THE INTERIOR MINISTRY BLAMED THE INCIDENT ON OPPOSITION
POLITICIAN LEITH SHUBEILAT, AN ARDENT CRITIC OF GOVERNMENT POLICY
ON THE IRAQ CRISIS. THE STATEMENT SAYS MR. SHUBEILAT WAS
ARRESTED LATE THURSDAY AFTER DELIVERING A SERMON IN MAAN THAT THE
GOVERNMENT DESCRIBED AS AN ATTEMPT TO INCITE UNREST.
MR. SHUBEILAT IS KNOWN FOR HIS PRO-IRAQ SYMPATHIES. HE TRAVELLED
TO BAGHDAD LAST MONTH FOR A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN. AND AFTERWARD, THE IRAQI LEADER RELEASED ABOUT 80
JORDANIANS WHO HAD BEEN HELD IN IRAQI JAILS ON A VARIETY OF
CHARGES.
THE GESTURE WAS SEEN AS A SLAP AT THE JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT WHICH
HAD SOUGHT IN VAIN TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS.
RELATIONS BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND AMMAN HAVE DETERIORATED DURING THE
PAST TWO YEARS. BUT JORDANIAN PUBLIC OPINION IS RUNNING STRONGLY
IN FAVOR OF IRAQ IN THE CURRENT STANDOFF OVER BAGHDAD'S WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
OPPOSITION PARTIES INCLUDING THE INFLUENTIAL MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
ATTEMPTED TO ORGANIZE A PRO-IRAQ DEMONSTRATION HERE IN AMMAN LAST
WEEK. BUT THE PROTESTORS WERE QUICKLY DISPERSED BY CLUB-WIELDING
POLICE. DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS WERE ARRESTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH/PLM
20-Feb-98 11:34 AM EST (1634 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
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