Jordanian King: Military operations against Iraq is an invasion, the Iraqis are martyrs
Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 4/4/2003

The Jordanian king has described the American- British against Iraq and for the first time as an "invasion" disclosing that his country has rejected a request to open its air space for the military jets of the coalition.

In a statement to the Jordanian News agency Petra, the Jordanian Monarch described the Jordanian civilians who were killed in the fighting as "martyrs" expressing his pains over what is taking in neighborly Iraq.

The Jordanian King said "we were asked to open our airspace for the crossing of the warplanes but we refused persistently." He added "we have harmony with ourselves and with the people who rejected and condemned the invasion and then how could we partner in this war." The Jordanian monarch stressed " I am an Arab, and a Muslim Hashemite and my care to my people and nation is not bargained."

He added "our Jordanian people, and I am one of them, strongly condemn the killing of children and women and we feel sad, seeing at the TV screens increased number of innocent Iraqi civilian martyred. And as a father I feel the pain of every and each Iraqi family and every Iraqi child and father." Replying to a question of transporting American military forces from Turkey to Jordan to attack Iraq from there, the Jordanian King said "Absolutely we can not permit that. I had heard about this matter as you did through the mass media. I assure you this matter was not proposed to us and we will never permit it."

On Jordan's role in the phase after the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the Jordanian Monarch said "we do not accept interfering in the Iraqi affairs, the option of the Iraqi people and we also refuse any body to impose on this brotherly neighborly people, their future and the selections of their leadership." Replying to a question on the presence of Israeli forces in Jordan, the Jordanian King said " it is shame, rather dangerous to hear this from certain Arab media. There are no Israeli forces in Jordan and we will not accept such forces on our lands, anyway, under any circumstances."

On the expulsion of the Iraqi diplomats from Amman, the Jordanian King said " regrettably those diplomats surpassed the limit of their diplomatic work, but because of my care to keep our relations with Iraq good, I asked to bypass this issue and not to escalate this matter," adding "I do not want to comment more at the meantime."

Previous Stories:
  Jordan has not witnessed any flow for Iraqi refugees   (3/27/2003)
  Iraqi ambassador in Amman: Baghdad is ready to send new diplomats to replace expelled ones   (3/27/2003)
  Sabri strongly criticizes expulsion of Iraqi diplomats   (3/27/2003)
  Jordan: No request from Washington to close Iraqi embassy   (3/22/2003)
  American embassy in Amman suspends services   (3/21/2003)
  Al-Rai: Jordan: American soldiers will not attack Iraq   (3/5/2003)

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