Jordan’s military has told King Abdullah’s half-brother Prince Hamza bin Hussein to halt actions targeting “security and stability” in what people familiar with the matter said could be related to a plot to destabilize the country.
In a statement published by the state news agency, the military said the warning to Prince Hamza was part of a broader, ongoing security investigation in which a former minister, a junior member of the royal family and unnamed others were detained.
Prince Hamza said in a video recording he was under house arrest and had been told to stay at home and not contact anyone.
Earlier, army chief Yusef Huneity denied reports the prince had been arrested but said he was told to “stop activities that are being exploited to target Jordan’s security and stability”.
King Abdullah dismissed Prince Hamza as heir to the throne in 2004.
The move against Prince Hamza represents the first such incident involving a close member of the royal family since King Abdullah came to the throne.
The state news agency said Bassem Awadallah, a US-educated long-time confidant of the king who later became minister of finance, and Sharif Hassan Ben Zaid, a member of the royal family, were detained along with other unnamed figures.
It gave no details.
The Saudi royal court voiced its full support for King Abdullah and all decisions taken by him to maintain security and stability. Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar also stood by him. The US State Department said the king was a “key partner” and had its full backing.
Arrests of top officials and royal family members are rare in Jordan, seen as one of the Arab world’s most stable countries.
Awadallah was a driving force behind economic reforms before he resigned as chief of the royal court in 2008. He stepped down after coming under public criticism over alleged interference in controversial political and economic issues.
