Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb has called on his countrymen to close ranks in the wake of the terror attacks in the United States, during a meeting with political party chiefs.
"The current and upcoming phases facing Jordan and the region call for a strong and united position based on national security and stability," Abu Ragheb said at the meeting, the official Petra news agency reported Thursday.
"The government will not hesitate in taking the necessary measures against unproductive, extremist reactions that are aimed at undermining Jordan's security and stability," he told the party chiefs, quoted by AFP.
He reiterated Jordan's "opposition to (terror) attacks," saying such action "is refused by our tolerant Islamic religion and our noble Arab identity."
The party leaders said they supported Jordan's official views and called for a "united Arab front to clarify the real image of Arabs and Muslims."
On Sunday Islamic scholars issued a fatwa, or religious decree, forbidding Muslims from taking part in a planned US-led international coalition to fight terrorism.
But the order, issued by the religious council of Jordan's main Islamist opposition group, the Islamic Action Front, does not apply to the party until its leadership approves the text, a party official told AFP.
Another fatwa issued by the official Jordanian religious council also on Sunday denounced the "horrible" attacks on the United States and urged world caution in accusing Muslims and Arabs for the devastating bloodshed.
The IAF, meanwhile, condemned the terror attacks, but said Washington was responsible because of its world policies, namely in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian monarch said in an interview with CNN Wednesday that fighting terrorism "is not just a military option.”
“It is that of the political, diplomatic, economic, and intelligence. And each country with its capabilities will try and [help] as much as they can," he said, cited by Petra.
Asked about the outcome of his recent meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the king said: “We had a very good meeting, trying to coordinate what support we can give to the international community and what we need to do to really be able to tackle the problem of international terrorism.” – Albawaba.com
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