King cuts short US trip; gov't expresses grief

By Sa'ad G. Hattar

King Abdullah and the government also sent a cable of condolences to US President George W. Bush “expressing their deepest sympathies over the death of the innocent victims in these acts of terrorism that targeted a number of US buildings and institutions,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.

“His Majesty has telephoned His Royal Highness Prince Faisal, the Regent, and Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb and said he had decided to cancel his visit to Washington and would return home because of the situtation in the United States,” Petra quoted an official as saying.

Officials said the King is currently in London and was expected to fly to the United States later on Tuesday on a working trip that would have taken him to several US cities before a meeting with Bush on September 20 for talks on the Middle East crisis.

The government also expressed sadness and grief at the wave of attacks against New York's World Trade Centre twin towers and other buildings.

A senior official told The Jordan Times that the already tight security around the US and Israeli embassies in Amman for the past year was being beefed up as a precautionary measure following yesterday's terrorist attacks in the US.

Senior army and police officials also held separate emergency meetings to review the situation, the official added.

“The Jordanian government expresses its sadness and grief and offers its deepest sympathies to the American people, the president and government, as well as the families of the victims of these terrorist acts which contravene all religious and human values,” Petra said.

The statement was issued after the Council of Ministers, during its regular weekly meeting, reviewed “the terrorist acts in the US, which targeted a number of centres and institutions resulting in a huge loss of innocent civilians.”

“Security was tightened around the US, British and Israeli embassies in Amman and schools bearing American and British names or affiliations,” the official said. “A large number of security forces were deployed around these missions and institutions and some security men took positions on the roofs of nearby buildings,” he added.

He also said security was stepped up at the Qualifying Industrial Zone in Irbid, from where joint Jordanian-Israeli industries export goods worth millions of dollars to the US market.

Two US-bound Royal Jordanian planes landed at Shannon, Ireland, following the explosions in New York and Washington, officials said.

“The two planes, on regular flights to New York and Detroit, were asked to land in Shannon after receiving news that US airspace was totally closed following the attacks,” one said.

“All passengers have been put in hotels in Shannon while Royal Jordanian continues monitoring developments in coordination with its various offices worldwide,” Petra quoted one official as saying.