Death toll has climbed to at least 57 in a series of blasts that
rocked three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman Wednesday night,
Deputy Prime Marwan Moasher said.??
At least 57 people were killed and over 300 others wounded in
the blasts that struck the Grand Hyatt, the Radisson SAS and the
Days Inn hotels in downtown Amman, Moasher said on state
television.
According to the Xinhua News Agency quoting Chinese Embassy in
Jordan, two members with a visiting Chinese military delegation
were killed and two were injured, one seriously.
"The attacks were carried out either by individuals wearing
explosives on their belts or in one instance by a car that
attempted to cross through the security barrier," said
Moasher.??
He said most of the victims in the blasts were
Jordanians.??
Jordanian King Abdullah II, who is visiting Kazakhstan,
condemned the bombing attacks as criminal acts, the Jordanian TV
reported.
The attacks are criminal acts committed by a few of astray
individuals, King Abdullah was quoted as saying in a
statement.??
These terrorist attacks would not sway Amman playing a role in
combating terror, said the king, vowing to take those responsible
for the attack to justice, as Jordan would "remain a safe
country".??
Police said the biggest explosion happened in the Radisson SAS
hotel where a wedding parting was going on.
The attacks bore the trademarks of the al-Qaida terror network,
which has staged similar attacks against high-profile Western
targets in the past, police said, adding investigation is
underway.??
Visiting the blasts-hit Grand Hyatt hotel, Jordanian Prime
Minister Adnan Badran ordered schools and government offices closed
on Thursday.
Meanwhile, police have cordoned around hotels, embassies in the
capital area.
Shortly after the blasts, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who
is currently in Saudi Arabia, announced to cancel a planned visit
to Jordan on Thursday.
The targeted hotels, owned by American interests, are frequented
by foreign tourists and diplomats, police said, warning higher
casualties.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2005)
