Jordan: Security forces shake-up
Amman, 3 March. (AKI) - Two days after revolts in three Jordanian jails, the head of security Mohammed Majid al-Itan has announced that some top level security officials are being dismissed and replaced. He also announced that that there would also be changes in various police corps, the judiciary and the prison system. The move follows a stand-off in Jordan's prisons when the detainees in Juweideh jail held the director and guards hostage.
One Jordanian security source told Adnkronos International (AKI) that there was no connection between the new appointments and the sackings. "They were based on a decree which was issued the day before the revolts" he said.
Some observers however believe that it is intended to pre-empt the findings of a commission of inquiry demanded by the premier Maaruf al-Bakhit into the causes of the prison riots.
One of the high level figures to lose their jobs is national prisons director lieutenant colonel Saad al-Ajrami, who was held hostage and is still receiving medical treatment for his wounds. He has been replaced by lieutenant colonel Husayn al-Trawna.
The riots broke out on Tuesday evening at the Juweideh jail when inmates demanded that at least two prisoners, including the al-Qaida-linked killer of an American diplomat, be transferred from the Swaqa prison to theirs, the officials said.
Juweideh prison is one of five Jordanian disciplinary jails where 180 Muslim militants including a number of al-Qaida members are incarcerated.
The two main inmates the rioters wanted transferred were Jordanian Azmi al-Jayousi and Libyan Salem bin Suweid, officials said.
Al-Jayousi was sentenced to death on 15 February for a 2004 plot to carry out chemical attacks against sites in Jordan, including the U.S. Embassy. Another Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi thought to be behind many terrorist attacks in Iraq was also sentenced to death in absentia for the plot.
Al-Jayousi was convicted for conspiring to attack various sites in Jordan by setting off a cloud of toxic chemicals that would have killed thousands of people.
One Jordanian security source told Adnkronos International (AKI) that there was no connection between the new appointments and the sackings. "They were based on a decree which was issued the day before the revolts" he said.
Some observers however believe that it is intended to pre-empt the findings of a commission of inquiry demanded by the premier Maaruf al-Bakhit into the causes of the prison riots.
One of the high level figures to lose their jobs is national prisons director lieutenant colonel Saad al-Ajrami, who was held hostage and is still receiving medical treatment for his wounds. He has been replaced by lieutenant colonel Husayn al-Trawna.
The riots broke out on Tuesday evening at the Juweideh jail when inmates demanded that at least two prisoners, including the al-Qaida-linked killer of an American diplomat, be transferred from the Swaqa prison to theirs, the officials said.
Juweideh prison is one of five Jordanian disciplinary jails where 180 Muslim militants including a number of al-Qaida members are incarcerated.
The two main inmates the rioters wanted transferred were Jordanian Azmi al-Jayousi and Libyan Salem bin Suweid, officials said.
Al-Jayousi was sentenced to death on 15 February for a 2004 plot to carry out chemical attacks against sites in Jordan, including the U.S. Embassy. Another Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi thought to be behind many terrorist attacks in Iraq was also sentenced to death in absentia for the plot.
Al-Jayousi was convicted for conspiring to attack various sites in Jordan by setting off a cloud of toxic chemicals that would have killed thousands of people.
posted by Marko at 3/03/2006 11:21:00 AM
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