Jordanian committee to investigate accusation against prime minister

The Jordanian news agency, Petra, said that the Jordanian Parliament formed a committee yesterday to investigate accusations of corruption leveled at Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh.

Mohammed El-Kharabsha, an independent Jordanian deputy and son of al-Rawabdeh, was previously accused of seeking-- with his father's knowledge-- to obtain a bribe of 15 million dinars ($2 million) from Gulf investors to guarantee official consent for the $100 million tourism project.

Al-Rawabdeh denied these accusations last week and announced his readiness to resign if this accusation is proved.

The Jordanian news agency said the Jordanian parliament, composed of 80 seats, appointed nine members to the committee, which is considered the first of its sort in the history of Jordan.