BEIRUT (AP) Jordans Prince Hamzah said in a recording released Monday that he will defy government threats ordering him to stay at home and refrain from public statements following accusations he was behind a plot to destabilize the kingdom led by his half brother, King Abdullah II.
The recording, which circulated online, indicates that tensions remain high between the king and Hamzah, a former heir to the throne.
The United States has sided with Abdullah, a close Western ally in a volatile region. Jordan borders Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Jordanian authorities said Sunday they had foiled the malicious plot by Hamzah with foreign help. Hamzah has denied any role and says he is being targeted for speaking out against corruption and poor governance.
The army chief of staff came to me and issued threats in the name of heads of security agencies, Hamzah said in the recording. I recorded his comments and distributed them to my acquaintances abroad as well as my family in case something happens.
I dont want to escalate now, but of course I will not abide when he tells me you are not allowed to go out, tweet or connect with people and you are only allowed to see family members, he said. When an army chief of staff says that, this is something that I think is unacceptable.
The authenticity of the recording was confirmed by an individual close to the prince, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. The individual said the recording is a few days old and was made after the army chief threatened the prince.
Jordans army chief of staff, Gen. Yousef Huneiti, said Monday the countrys armed forces and security agencies have the power and experience to deal with any developments that might happen internally or in the region.
He made his comments while taking part in Shield of the Nation, a drill that included several brigades, special forces, border guards and the Royal Air Force in the eastern region of the kingdom, the state news agency Petra said.
The exercise did not appear to be related to the weekend incidents because such drills are planned well in advance.
Huneiti said the troops will confront anyone who tries to endanger the nations security, terrify its citizens and threatens the security and stability of the kingdom.
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Sunday the prince had recorded conversations and passed them to foreign sources. He did not provide specifics on the alleged plot or say what other countries were purportedly involved. But he said about 14-16 associates of Hamzah had been arrested, in addition to Bassem Awadallah, a former Cabinet minister and one-time head of the royal court, and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family.
The move by the U.S. and Arab governments to side quickly with Abdullah reflected Jordans strategic importance. Domestically, Hamzahs unprecedented criticism of the ruling class without naming the king could lend support to growing complaints about poor governance and human rights abuses in Jordan.
Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein, who remains a beloved figure two decades after his death. Upon ascending to the throne in 1999, Abdullah named Hamzah as crown prince, only to revoke the title five years later.
While the two are said to have good relations generally, Hamzah has at times spoken out against government policies, and more recently had forged ties with powerful tribal leaders in a move seen as a threat to the king.
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Associated Press writers Sarah El Deeb in Beirut and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed.
