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Wednesday, April 02, 2003

By Emily Wax, The Washington Post

CAIRO, Egypt -- Jordan has arrested six Iraqis suspected of plotting to poison a water tank in the desert near the Iraqi border that serves U.S. troops, officials in Amman said yesterday.

The Jordanian police also were investigating a plot by four Iraqis accused of planning to blow up an apartment complex at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman, the country's capital, officials said.

They're also investigating a separate plot to contaminate the water for several hundred U.S. troops at a base in Khao, 17 miles northeast of Amman.

"It does not take an expert to figure out that the security situation now is beyond tense in Jordan. It is very, very, very serious," said Jordan's minister of information, Mohammed Adwan, who provided no details on the arrests. "For now, the issue is under control and being investigated," he said in a telephone interview.

Jordan has grown increasingly concerned about its internal security as anger on the streets increases over the war in Iraq and the country's role as a U.S. ally. In a statement published in the London-based Al Hayat newspaper, 99 Jordanian politicians, intellectuals and former ministers asked the government to condemn the aggression on Iraq.

"Such a stance would confirm the legitimacy of the Jordanian administration and protests, its interest and its future," it said. "We understand the extent of the challenges that Jordan faces, and we call on you to stand up for what is right."

Last week, tensions between Iraq and Jordan increased when Baghdad accused the kingdom of letting U.S. forces use its territory to launch attacks on Iraq.

Jordanian officials have said they want a swift end to the war and think the U.S.-led invasion is wrong. The officials are increasingly focused on internal security threats.

Opposition to U.S. military action in Iraq is strong in Jordan, which has a large Palestinian population, and where anti-war protests have raged in Palestinian refugee camps.

A Western diplomat said security is tight at the Amman Grand Hyatt's adjoining complex of apartments and businesses because of a threatened bomb attack by militants. Many Westerners are staying at the complex, including journalists, executives and aid workers.

Hyatt managers said they were working with officials and that the situation was under control.

"Everyone is cooperating -- the hotel, the Jordanian government -- to make sure it does not happen," said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified. "But we know this is a serious threat. And everyone has to be meticulous."

Jordan said it expelled five Iraqi diplomats last week on security grounds, saying they intended to "undermine Jordan's internal security." The United States asked all countries to expel Iraqi diplomats, but Jordanian officials said they asked the diplomats to leave because of their own investigation.

Security was increased at banks, embassies, power stations and agricultural facilities this week.