Jordan refuses to receive released former Iraqi officials

Al-Jazeera satellite TV quoted a Jordanian official source saying that Amman refused to receive the former Iraqi officials who were released by the American forces on Monday.

The source explained that the reason behind the rejection is that there was no "prior coordination with Amman," adding it will permit the entry of the secretary general of Iraq's intellectuals Sattam al-Kaoud "because he has the right to reside in Jordan."

The American army had released some 24 senior former Iraqi officials including woman member of the dissolved Baath party Huda saleh Mahdi Ammash, the former minister of higher education Humam Abdul Khaleq and former transport minister Ahmad Murtada.

Also released was the official in charge of the former Iraqi biological weapons program Rihab Taha and Sattam al-Kaoud.