DATE=2/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227134
TITLE=JORDAN / IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUG ROBERTS
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITS OF THE JORDANIAN ARMY MOVED INTO THE SOUTHERN TOWN
OF MAAN SUNDAY AFTER TWO DAYS OF UNREST SPARKED BY PRO-IRAQ
DEMONSTRATIONS. THE SITUATION IN THE TOWN NEAR JORDAN'S BORDER
WITH SAUDI ARABIA IS NOW REPORTED CALM BUT JORDANIAN POLITICAL
ANALYSTS PREDICT THE UNREST WILL ESCALATE IF THE UNITED STATES
CARRIES OUT ITS THREAT TO ATTACK IRAQ IN THE ONGOING
CONFRONTATION OVER BAGHDAD'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. FROM
THE JORDANIAN CAPITAL, AMMAN, DOUG ROBERTS REPORTS:
TEXT: THE JORDANIAN ARMY SEALED OFF MAAN IN THE EARLY HOURS OF
SUNDAY MORNING. ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS WERE DEPLOYED ON THE
OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN AND JORDANIAN TROOPS TOOK UP POSITIONS AT
KEY INTERSECTIONS. THE TROOPS THEN MOVED FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE IN
A SEARCH FOR UNLICENSED WEAPONS.
THE MILITARY DEPLOYMENT WAS ORDERED AFTER KING HUSSEIN VISITED
THE TOWN, HIS BIRTHPLACE, AND DELIVERED A SCATHING ATTACK ON THE
PRO-IRAQ DEMONSTRATORS WHO TOOK TO THE STREETS IN DEFIANCE OF A
GOVERNMENT BAN AFTER FRIDAY PRAYERS AT THE TOWN'S MAIN MOSQUE.
ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND THREE OTHERS WOUNDED IN THE ENSUING
CONFRONTATION BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS AND JORDANIAN RIOT POLICE.
THERE WAS MORE VIOLENCE ON SATURDAY AFTER PROTESTERS STORMED A
POLICE STATION AND SET FIRE TO A LOCAL BANK.
JORDANIAN OFFICIALS SAY A TOTAL OF EIGHT POLICEMEN WERE INJURED
IN THE TWO DAYS OF UNREST -- MANY OF THEM THE VICTIMS OFF
GUNSHOT WOUNDS. BUT JORDANIAN OPPOSITION SPOKESMEN INSIST IT WAS
THE POLICE WHO OPENED FIRE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BLAMED THE UNREST ON A PROMINENT POLITICAL
DISSIDENT -- LEITH SHUBEILT -- WHO HEADS THE JORDANIAN
ENGINEERS UNION. MR. SHUBEILT WAS ARRESTED LATE THURSDAY ON
CHARGES OF INCITEMENT AFTER HE DELIVERED A SPEECH IN MAAN
STRONGLY CRITICAL OF GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE IRAQ CRISIS.
KING HUSSEIN HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO
THE CRISIS AND VOICED OPPOSITION TO ANY MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
BAGHDAD. BUT JORDANIAN ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS A POPULAR
PERCEPTION HERE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SIDING WITH THE UNITED
STATES AND ITS ALLIES AGAINST IRAQ.
POLITICAL COMMENTATOR LABIB QAMHAWI SAYS UNREST HERE IS LIKELY TO
ESCALATE IN THE EVENT OF A U-S LED MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST
IRAQ.
//INSERT ACT ONE//
THE BACKLASH WOULD BE IMMEDIATE TO ANY MILITARY ATTACK
ON IRAQ AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT MEASURES THE
GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE. PEOPLE WILL REACT IMMEDIATELY AND
YOU WILL SEE MAYBE RIOTING, MAYBE ACTS OF VIOLENCE,
MAYBE A MILITARY GOVERNMENT, I DON'T KNOW, JUST TO
CONTROL THE SITUATION.
//END ACT//
OTHER COMMENTATORS AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT. NABIL AL-SHARIF,
EDITOR OF THE CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWSPAPER
"AL-DESTOUR," SAYS THERE IS LIKELY TO BE UNREST IN MANY PARTS OF
THE ARAB WORLD.
//INSERT ACT TWO//
THE PROTEST THAT WE SAW IN AMMAN AND IN MANY CITIES IN
THE WEST BANK IN EGYPT I THINK ARE A MICROCOSM OF WHAT
WE COULD SEE. THIS IS REALLY NOTHING AS TO WHAT MIGHT
HAPPEN.
//END ACT//
MR. SHARIF SAYS A WESTERN ATTACK WILL SPARK ANGER, OUTRAGE AND
ANTI-AMERICAN PROTEST IN MANY ARAB CITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DR/ENE-T/SD
22-Feb-98 6:00 PM EST (2300 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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