Thursday, March 17, 2011

Jordan's Islamist party says its chief is under police protection after threat

By The Associated Press (CP) – 3 days ago

AMMAN, Jordan — A spokesman for Jordan's powerful Islamic Action Front says its leader has been threatened and is now under police protection.

The IAF is Jordan's largest opposition party and has been the most vocal in recent pro-reform protests, calling for the prime minister to be elected by the people instead of appointed by King Abdullah and that the parliament be dissolved.

Spokesman Abdul-Hamid Qudah said Monday that IAF's leader Hamza Mansour was threatened by unnamed youths over the weekend who called for his "departure." No attack took place.

Mansour spoke to a record crowd of 4,000 pro-reform protesters in downtown Amman in early March.

Qudah says police are now monitoring Mansour's home in Amman and interrogating suspects. Officials were not immediately available for comment.

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press.

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