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Former Jordanian Crown Prince Hamsa bin Hussein
Photo: MAJED JABER / REUTERS
In the power struggle in the Jordanian royal family, Prince Hamsa bin Hussein confirmed his involvement in a plot against the security and stability of the kingdom, according to the court.
The royal family announced on Monday evening that Prince Hamsa had signed a declaration to this effect.
"The interests of the homeland must be paramount, and we all stand behind His Majesty the King in his efforts to protect Jordan and its national interests," says the declaration that Hamsa is said to have signed.
For his part, King Abdullah II agreed to an attempt at mediation within the family.
Abdullah II decided to clarify the matter within the Jordanian royal family and to entrust his uncle Prince Hassan with it, as the palace announced.
The Jordanian government said it had thwarted a plot over the weekend and placed Prince Hamsa under house arrest on charges of conspiracy.
At least 16 other suspects were arrested.
According to a government spokesman, Hamsa and his alleged co-conspirators are charged with working with foreign forces to "undermine Jordanian stability and security."
King Abdullah II, who ascended the throne in 1999 after the death of his father King Hussein, initially made Hamsa crown prince at his father's request.
In 2004, however, he revoked this and gave his own son Hussein this title.
The 41-year-old Hamsa, who claims to have been placed under house arrest in his palace in Amman, denied being involved in a conspiracy in a video published by the BBC on Saturday.
Hamsa had emphasized that he was not part of a plot.
On Sunday evening, Hamsa also announced in an audio recording published on the online service Twitter that it would oppose the requirements of the Jordanian authorities.
"Of course I won't obey if they say you can't go out, you can't tweet, you can't communicate with people," he said.
At the same time, however, he announced that he would not take any further "steps" and would avoid an "escalation".
mjm / afp / dpa
