Jordan's King Abdullah appealed to his countrymen on Friday to moderate their expressions of sympathy for Iraqis as fears grew that street protests could spill over into widespread violence.
"I know what you feel in pain and anger towards what is happening to the Iraqi people in suffering and calamities..," the monarch said in a televized speech to the nation.
"As for the demonstration of our feelings towards the Iraqi people, it has to be expressed in a civilized way that will help ease the anguish of our brothers and help them face war and overcome its ramifications," the king said.
He said that Jordan has worked hard to resolve the crisis between Iraq and the United Nation through political means and through contacting with influential countries in the world.
King Abdullah's appeal comes after a wave of protests that spilled into street violence across Amman and major cities after Friday prayers in protest over the U.S.-led war against Iraq.
"It's difficult to control people's feelings. The government should allow Jordanians to peacefully express their outrage against this barbaric aggression against Iraq," said Abdul Latif Arabiyat, a leader of the Islamic Action Front, the largest political party.
"Preventing people from exercising their right of expression is not in the interest of stability...," Arabiyat told Reuters.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
