DATE=2/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227101
TITLE=JORDAN / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=AMMAN, JORDAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JORDANIAN POLICE HAVE CLASHED WITH PRO-IRAQ DEMONSTRATORS
IN THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF MA'AN FOR THE SECOND DAY RUNNING. KING
HUSSEIN FLEW TO THE SCENE SATURDAY TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AS WE
HEAR FROM V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN AMMAN.
TEXT: NEWS REPORTS SAY POLICE FOUGHT RUNNING BATTLES WITH
STONE-THROWING DEMONSTRATORS SATURDAY IN THE STREETS OF MA'AN, A
MARKET TOWN NEAR JORDAN'S BORDER WITH SAUDI ARABIA. A REPORT FROM
AN ASSOCIATED PRESS CORRESPONDENT ON THE SCENE SAYS THE
DEMONSTRATORS ATTACKED A POLICE STATION AND BURNED DOWN A LOCAL
BANK.
THE RIOTING WAS APPARENTLY SPARKED BY THE DEATH OF A MA'AN
RESIDENT FRIDAY DURING A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN POLICE AND
PRO-IRAQ DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE THE TOWN'S MAIN MOSQUE.
JORDANIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE MAN, MOHAMMED AL-KATED, WAS SHOT BY
ARMED MEN AMONG THE PROTESTERS. OTHER REPORTS BLAME POLICE FOR
THE KILLING. THREE OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN FRIDAY'S CLASHES,
INCLUDING ONE POLICEMAN. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OFFICIAL CASUALTY
FIGURES FOR SATURDAY'S VIOLENCE.
THE AMMAN GOVERNMENT BANS PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS EARLIER THIS
MONTH IN WHAT OFFICIALS ARE DESCRIBING AS AN ATTEMPT TO PRESERVE
NATIONAL SECURITY AT A TIME OF MOUNTING REGIONAL TENSIONS SPARKED
BY THE IRAQ CRISIS.
AS THE UNREST CONTINUED, KING HUSSEIN FLEW TO MA'AN TO CONFER
WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND PRIME MINISTER ADDEL SALEM AL-MAJALI
CONVENED A MEETING OF HIS CABINET IN AMMAN TO DISCUSS THE
SITUATION.
JORDANIAN OFFICIALS HAVE BLAMED THE VIOLENCE IN MA'AN ON THE
HEAD'S OF JORDAN'S ENGINEERS UNION, LEITH SHUBEITAT. AN ARDENT
CRITIC OF GOVERNMENT POLICY AND A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF THE IRAQ'S
PRESIDENT, SADDAM HUSSEIN.
MR. SHUBEITAT WAS ARRESTED LATE THURSDAY ON CHARGES OF INCITEMENT
AFTER DELIVERING A SPEECH IN MA'AN CONDEMNING THE GOVERNMENT.
U-S THREATS OF MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST IRAQ HAVE PROMPTED
WIDE-SPREAD ANGER HERE. OPPOSITION POLITIC GROUPS HAVE SLAMMED
GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE CRISIS, ACCUSING KING HUSSEIN OF SIDING
WITH THE WEST AGAINST THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
BUT JORDANIAN LEADERS INCLUDING THE KING, AND CROWNED PRINCE
HASSAN HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED THEIR OPPOSITION TO ANY MILITARY
ACTION AGAINST IRAQ AND APPEAL TO ALL CONCERNED TO WORK FOR A
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DR/TMD-T/KL
21-Feb-98 2:24 PM EST (1924 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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