Jordanian security forces have recently arrested dozens of Iraqi citizens residing in the kingdom without permits. According to Jordanian officials, quoted Tuesday by A Sharq al Awsat newspaper, the authorities plan to continue with this crackdown on Iraqi nationals, because they fear some of the Iraqis are working for Saddam Hussein’s secret service. According to the newspaper, Jordan fears these agents will create “security problems” in the kingdom parallel to the U.S. strike on Iraq.
The Jordanian sources told the Arabic daily they would give the Iraqis the option of returning to their homes or of going to another country of their choice. The newspaper reported that Jordanian officials had discovered rifles and pistoles in the possession of the illegal Iraqi citizens.
On Monday, the Jordanian government detained the head of the Committee against Normalization with Israel, Ali Abu Sukar. The arrest was made after the committee recently began to distribute school timetables printed with various inflammatory slogans to children in Amman. (Albawaba.com)
