Jordan's King Abdullah II has decided to sell off some royal properties to cover a salary increase for the country's army and security forces in 2001. "I have ordered the director of the royal cabinet to take the necessary measures to sell off some of our land to cover the cost of salary increases for the coming year," Abdullah said during his Sunday night speech for Iftar, Ramadan's daily fast-breaking meal, broadcast on state television.
The king explained that he had taken the decision due to a shortfall in government revenues. The government had opted to raise army and security force salaries by 10 dinars ($14) per month, totaling 16 million dinars ($22.4 million) for the year.
The King did not indicate which properties would be sold. Abdullah II also warned during the meal against attempts to exploit Israel's crackdown on the Palestinians to stir up discontent in Jordan, threatening to crack down on any "confrontation". — (AFP, Amman)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
