Jordan; postponing trial of Ansar partisans; Hijacker was not mentally ill

Jordan's state security court decided yesterday to postpone considering the trial of the only convict who is "physically" present in the case of "planning to carry out terrorist operations in Jordan," Ahmad Mahmoud Saleh al-Reyati, until he is brought before a specialized committee and considering his psychological condition.

The Jordanian official news agency Petra said that the court halted the procedures of the Reyati trial, the first convicted persons in the question of Ansar al-Islam organization and decided to put him before medical surveillance to find out whether he can stand before the court and is competent to understand the events of trials.

He added that the decision of the court in its first sessions was "to accept the appeal submitted from the defendant and viewing the convict by a three doctor committee at the national center for psychological health for two weeks period and then the court to be provided by a detailed report on his psychological situation."

Reyati who was arrested by the US forces in northern Iraq in March is the only convicted person in the case who is tried, with 12 Jordanians and two Iraqis fleeing justice.

On the other hand, the attorney general of the state security court Mahmoud Obeidat announced that investigation with the Lebanese Jamal Seif who tried to highjack a plane belonging to the Jordanian Royal Airline while heading from Amman to Malaysia on September 13, did not prove he is psychologically ill as stated by the Lebanese authorities.

Obeidat said that the investigation which started yesterday "did not prove he is psychologically ill" adding he will brought to a psychiatrist "in case his lawyer asks so."

An official n the Lebanese embassy in Amman said that Seif is a psychiatric patient "and was receiving medical treatment in Lebanese hospitals."

Seif will be brought before the state security court immediately after the end of investigations with witnesses in the case and preparing the list of accusations against him.