Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Gov't
intensifying efforts to secure release of Saaidat — spokesperson
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN — The government on Monday reiterated that
it was doing its utmost to guarantee the release of the Jordanian driver
kidnapped in Iraq, stressing that the Kingdom's diplomatic representation would
remain in Iraq.
During his weekly briefing yesterday, Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh said
the government has been working to secure the release of Mahmoud Salman Saaidat,
a driver at the Kingdom's embassy in Iraq, since the day he was abducted in Iraq
late last year.
Saaidat appeared in a videotape aired on Al Arabiya television on Sunday in
which he said his captors wrapped him with an explosive belt and set a four-day
deadline to execute him unless their demands were met.
When asked if the government would take new measures following this development,
Judeh said: “No measures will be taken but the government is working to secure
his release.”
“I appeal to the Jordanian government not to ignore my issue because my life is
in danger, as the deadline for my life sentence has been extended by four days,”
Saaidat said.
He said he would be killed unless an Iraqi woman, Sajida Atrous Rishawi, is
freed from prison, where she has been held since her confession to involvement
in the Nov. 9 hotel bombings in Amman.
“I am in great danger, the area is full of mines and I am wearing an explosive
belt and I do not know when my last hour will come,” said Saaidat, who was
snatched in south Baghdad on Dec. 20.
The screen also showed the name of the group holding him, the “Hawks Brigade.”
“All the concerned official agencies are following up on the issue
around-the-clock with the Iraqi authorities. In addition, other contacts are
being made at the same time with Iraqi parties,” Judeh told reporters, refusing
to elaborate.
Judeh added that Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit met with Saaidat's family and
assured them that the government is working to release him.
He also said that the government would study the family's situation and help
them.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson reiterated that the Jordanian diplomatic mission
would remain in Iraq, noting that the fact that the Kingdom's ambassador is not
there does not mean that there is no diplomatic representation.
Jordan has named a new ambassador to Iraq, but Ahmad Lawzi has not yet taken up
his post in Baghdad where Charge d'Affaires Suleiman Arabiyat is currently
running the embassy.
Meanwhile, Judeh said the Palestinian legislative elections, which are slated
for this Wednesday, are of concern to the Kingdom.
“The Palestinian elections are a turning point in the history of the
Palestinians. It is a step towards achieving peace and realising the aspirations
of the Palestinian people,” Judeh said.
Judeh, who voiced hope that the elections will go smoothly, noted that a
Jordanian delegation would take part in observing the Palestinian elections
along with other observers form the world.
According to news reports, Executive Director of the Central Elections Committee
(CEC) Ammar Dweik recently said some 850 international observers have been
registered by the CEC to observe the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections.
A total of 241 observers from the European Union, 100 from the US National
Democratic Institute, 60 from Canada, 75 from Italy, 20 from South Africa, 15
from Turkey, 27 from Russia and the rest from Jordan and Egypt, will
participate, according to the CEC.