EUROPEAN BRIEF

• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001393577
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Release Date: March 26, 2008
• Case Number: F-2006-01656
• Publication Date: April 22, 1989

 (b) (1) (b) (3) C_C.._ . 4. JORDAN: SITUATION STILL TENSE L-1 6 T to ST- ,A KING HUSSEIN HAS CANCELED HIS VISIT TO LONDON AND IS RETURNING TO JORDAN AMID REPORTS OF VIOLENCE NEAR THE CAPITAL. I                  (MOST OF THE RIOTING HAS SUBSIDED, BUT        I NAL VIOLENTDEMONSTRATIONS ARE STILL OCCURRING. PRESS REPORTS SAY RIOTERS BURNED A BANK IN MADABA, 30 KILOMETERS FROM AMMAN, YESTERDAY AND DEMONSTRATORS THREW STONES IN AS SALT, 20 KILOMETERS FROM THE CAPITAL. MOST OF JORDAN'S ARMED FORCES ARE ON ALERT, AND ARMY UNITS ARE DEPLOYED AT MANY ROAD JUNCTIONS BETWEEN AL QATRANAH AND MA'AN WHERE RIOTING OCCURRED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, ALTHOUGH AN ARMY UNIT FIRED AT CIVILIANS WEDNESDAY NIUHI  IN         LL TOWN, THE POLICE APPARENTLY ARE STILL HANDLING COMMENT: HUSSEIN'S RETURN IS LIKELY TO REDUCE THE UNREST. THE DEMONSTRATORS HAVE REMAINED LOYAL TO THE CROWN BUT ARE PRESSING FOR THE DISMISSAL OF PRIME MINISTER RIFA'I, WHOM THEY BLAME FOR MISMANAGING JORDAN'S ECONOMY. HUSSEIN PRESUMABLY WILL CONTINUE APPEALING FOR PATIENCE WITH THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM AND BLAMING JORDAN'S FINANCIAL STRAITS ON THE SHORTFALL OF PROMISED ARAB AID. HE MAY ALSO OFFER TOKEN CONCESSIONS TO SOFTEN THE BLOW OF AUSTERITY. IF THE DISORDERS CONTINUE, HE IS LIKELY TO ORDER INCREASED MILITARY K,# 6 [~+cnn r~ ~r 6 S'CGQ ...T 6