Jordan gets three Patriot batteries

A Jordanian official said yesterday that Jordan will received "in the coming weeks" three antimissile US Patriot missiles batteries in order to reinforce its defense means of fears of the war against Iraq.

The Jordanian official added "we applied for having three antimissiles missile batteries of Patriot type to protect our lands." He added that Jordan will receive this air defense system "in the coming weeks." A diplomatic source in Amman said that the missiles will be handed over "by the beginning of February." He added that "American military experts will accompany the batteries to train the Jordanian soldiers on using them."

The Jordanian King Abdullah II asked on Thursday in Amman during his talks with the leader of the American forces in the Gulf Gen. Tommy Francs from the US a defense system "to protect its airspace from any outer violation."