Arrested Jordanian journalist released

The chief editor of the Jordanian independent daily al-Arab al-Youm, Shaker al-Jawhari, said on Thursday that the Jordanian intelligence investigated him on Tuesday over several articles he had written and then released him on Wednesday.

He said he was asked in particular about his position toward the government of Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh, which he often criticized in his articles, stressing he was not subjected to physical torture. He attributed his quick release to "the personal intervention from his majesty, King Abdullah, who pledged to lift the ceiling of freedom since he assumed the throne."

Earlier, the Reporters Sans Frontiers organization concerned with the freedom of the press had called on the Jordanian king to release al-Jawhari.

This is the first time a Jordanian journalist has been held in custody since the formation of the current Jordanian government last March and King Abdullah's assumption of power in February.