OMEN
05-07-2006, 01:21 PM
Amman, Jordan May - The Hamas-led government in the Palestinian territories has refused a Jordanian request for it to send a delegation to Amman to examine evidence against members of the militant movement who allegedly smuggled weapons, Palestinian and Jordanian officials said Sunday.
Atta Khairy, top Palestinian diplomat in Jordan, told The Associated Press that the Hamas government informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that it was "not interested" in taking part in a delegation expected in Amman on Wednesday for a briefing on alleged Hamas plots to target Jordan.
Instead, the officials said they wanted Jordan to communicate directly with the Hamas leaders exiled in Syria "because they were accused of the plots," said Jordanian government spokesperson Nasser Judeh, quoting a letter from Abbas to the Jordanian governmenThe Palestinian government claimed it was not directly involved in the matter, Judeh quoted Abbas as stating.
"We are surprised by the refusal of the (Hamas) government to participate in the Palestinian delegation," Judeh said. He said Jordanian authorities would reveal details on the seized weapons and the detained militants, as well as expose violations by Hamas elements in Jordan over a long period of time.
The arms, explosives and missiles allegedly stockpiled by Hamas in Jordan and the "activities, plans and surveillance carried out by Hamas elements ... constitute a great danger and threat to Jordanian national security," the spokesman said.
Abbas has condemned plots targeting Jordanian security, describing the alleged Hamas arms cache found here as "baffling and dangerous."
He accepted a Jordanian invitation to dispatch a top Palestinian "political and security delegation" to Jordan to follow up on the matter.
Three weeks ago, Jordan said it arrested several Hamas members and discovered their weapons, which were allegedly smuggled from neighbouring Syria. The government declined to reveal how many activists had been arrested or what their nationality was, saying that may harm the pursuit of other suspects at large.
Jordan then cancelled a visit by Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, who is also the Hamas leader in Gaza.
The government later said it had found more arms, including TNT explosives, and LAW rockets - light anti-tank weapons.
Gradually disclosing information about the plot, the government said two weeks ago that the Hamas militants were in the final phase of planning an attack on unspecified targets in the kingdom under orders from a Hamas official in Syria.
Hamas and Syria, the host of Hamas' exiled leadership, including current boss Khaled Mashaal, have rejected the Jordanian allegations.
Sapa-AP
Atta Khairy, top Palestinian diplomat in Jordan, told The Associated Press that the Hamas government informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that it was "not interested" in taking part in a delegation expected in Amman on Wednesday for a briefing on alleged Hamas plots to target Jordan.
Instead, the officials said they wanted Jordan to communicate directly with the Hamas leaders exiled in Syria "because they were accused of the plots," said Jordanian government spokesperson Nasser Judeh, quoting a letter from Abbas to the Jordanian governmenThe Palestinian government claimed it was not directly involved in the matter, Judeh quoted Abbas as stating.
"We are surprised by the refusal of the (Hamas) government to participate in the Palestinian delegation," Judeh said. He said Jordanian authorities would reveal details on the seized weapons and the detained militants, as well as expose violations by Hamas elements in Jordan over a long period of time.
The arms, explosives and missiles allegedly stockpiled by Hamas in Jordan and the "activities, plans and surveillance carried out by Hamas elements ... constitute a great danger and threat to Jordanian national security," the spokesman said.
Abbas has condemned plots targeting Jordanian security, describing the alleged Hamas arms cache found here as "baffling and dangerous."
He accepted a Jordanian invitation to dispatch a top Palestinian "political and security delegation" to Jordan to follow up on the matter.
Three weeks ago, Jordan said it arrested several Hamas members and discovered their weapons, which were allegedly smuggled from neighbouring Syria. The government declined to reveal how many activists had been arrested or what their nationality was, saying that may harm the pursuit of other suspects at large.
Jordan then cancelled a visit by Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, who is also the Hamas leader in Gaza.
The government later said it had found more arms, including TNT explosives, and LAW rockets - light anti-tank weapons.
Gradually disclosing information about the plot, the government said two weeks ago that the Hamas militants were in the final phase of planning an attack on unspecified targets in the kingdom under orders from a Hamas official in Syria.
Hamas and Syria, the host of Hamas' exiled leadership, including current boss Khaled Mashaal, have rejected the Jordanian allegations.
Sapa-AP