Posted on 11/14/2002 4:30:19 PM PST by knighthawk
Jordanian officials started collecting weapons from residents of Maan on Thursday. Caches of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades and bomb-making materials, have been seized, authorities said.
The Jordanian government has declared the city of Ma'an a demilitarized zone, banning holding or possessing of any types of weapons without the approval of the interior minister. It said Jordan would not compromise on its security or the higher national interests.
At its regular meeting on Wednesday, the cabinet was updated by Interior Minister Qaftan al-Majali on the progress of the security campaign in Ma'an.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian news agency MENA reported that the Jordanian government rejected late Wednesday a mediation offer by Islamic Action Front.
According to a statement by Abd-al-Latif Arabiyat, the Shura Council speaker president of the Islamic Action Front, Prime Minister Ali Abu-al-Ragheb phoned him earlier in the day to inform him of the government's apology for not accepting the mediation offer in this case. Abu-al-Ragheb said the parties concerned were pressing ahead with their procedures to finish this task.
Arabiyat regretted the government's rejection of the mediation offer to work out a solution to the crisis. He reiterated previous requests to lift the siege imposed on Ma'an and enforce legal and civil procedures.
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