Jordan prince, in video, says was placed under house arrest
- par Rene Duval
- dans Sport
- — Avr 4, 2021
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The details remained murky, but any internal unrest would raise alarms among the USA and other Western nations, which have long viewed Jordan's ruling monarchy as a key military ally and a bastion of stability in a volatile region. Prior to that, The Washington Post reported, citing a Jordanian palace advisor, that some 20 officials were arrested over allegedly plotting a coup d'etat, ousting King Abdullah II and replacing him with Prince Hamzah in a move that could seriously "threaten the country's stability".
Investigations are underway into the issue, Petra, reported.
The agency later denied media reports claiming that Hamzah bin Al Hussein, the king's half-brother and former crown prince, had been detained or put under house arrest.
In a videotaped statement leaked to the British Broadcasting Corp., Prince Hamzah said he was visited early Saturday by the country's military chief and told "I was not allowed to go out, to communicate with people or to meet with them".
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri also voiced support for King Abdullah II, saying that Jordan's stability os the basis for the stability of the whole Arab world.
"We are closely following the reports and in touch with Jordanian officials", State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
"The Arab Republic of Egypt expresses its full solidarity and support to [.] His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Hussein in maintaining the security and stability of the kingdom against any attempts to overthrow [him]". The king has cultivated close relations with US and other Western leaders over the years, and Jordan was a key ally in the war against the Islamic State group. The country borders Israel, the occupied West Bank, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The country, with a population of around 10 million, also hosts more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.
Jordan made peace with Israel in 1994, but relations have been tense in recent years, largely due to differences linked to Israel's conflict with the Palestinians.
Abdullah stripped his half-brother Hamzah of his title as crown prince in 2004, saying he had made a decision to "free" him from the "constraints of the position" in order to allow him to take on other responsibilities.
The current crown prince is Abdullah's oldest son, Hussein, aged 26.
Abdullah and Hamzah have not displayed any open rivalry over the years.
