Jordan Times
Thursday, November 10, 2005
King condemns terror attacks
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on
Wednesday condemned the terror attacks that targeted three hotels in Amman
yesterday evening killing 57 people and injuring scores of others.
In a statement issued by the Royal Court, the King described the terrorist
blasts as “criminal acts conducted by stray, misleading groups.”
The King vowed that such terror acts would not deter Jordan from assuming its
important role in striving to combat terrorism, terror groups and those who
advocate violence.
The Monarch stressed that the criminals who perpetrated these acts against
innocent civilians would be brought to justice.
The King emphasised that Jordan would remain a safe and stable country and that
such acts contradict the values of the Jordanian people.
Shortly after the attacks, HRH Prince Hashem, the Regent, visited the sites of
the explosions and toured the hospitals where the wounded were being treated.
The Regent said that these criminal attacks would not shake Jordan's resolute
and firm stand against terror.
He was accompanied on his tour by Prime Minister Adnan Badran and Minister of
Interior Awni Yarvas.
Later, the Cabinet issued a statement expressing “anger and condemnation of this
cowardly terrorist act... which contradicts our true Islamic faith and genuine
Arab values.”
Voicing confidence in the security apparatus, the Cabinet, vowed to show no
leniency towards anyone who sought to harm the country and its citizens.
Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Badran said that the security
agencies had the situation under control and that the Cabinet would take all the
necessary measures to protect citizens.
The terrorist attacks received widespread condemnation late Wednesday from
parliamentarians, politicians and civil society institutions, including
President of the Senate Zeid Rifai and Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali.
They pledged support from Parliament for efforts to eradicate terrorists.
A similar statement was issued by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamic group's
overall leader Abdul Majid Thneibat said: “By all standards, this is a criminal
and terrorist act that no true Muslim would carry out.”
“We in the Muslim Brotherhood condemn such heinous, terrorist and cowardly
attacks that cannot be justified by any means,” the Islamist leader said.
He urged every citizen to help search for the criminals behind these crimes.
A statement by another Islamic group, the Islamic Centrist Party, echoed the
condemnation, describing the acts as “cowardly deeds that can only be
perpetrated by the coward and the evil ones.”
The Nahda, Jordan Labour and New Dawn parties issued a joint statement calling
on Jordanians to show courage and stand up to the terrorists.
The Jordanian Arab Constitutional Front said the criminal act would “only add to
Jordan's strength and unity.”
President of the Jordan Human Rights Society Jamal Rifai condemned the blasts as
a “form of mass killing that is prohibited by all international laws and
religions.”
Local institutions and groups announced they would take to the streets Thursday
in Amman and other towns to express their condemnation. But Deputy Prime
Minister and Government Spokesperson Marwan Muasher told the official TV that no
official permission had yet been given and the government was studying the
situation to assess the security of such a rally.
The Prime Ministry issued a statement declaring Thursday a day of mourning. All
schools and official agencies will be closed. Central Bank Governor Umayya
Touqan also declared that all banks will close as a mark of respect for the
dead.