WASHINGTON Ñ Jordan has offered to send special operations forces to maintain order in Afghanistan.

U.S. officials said Jordan's King Abdullah relayed the offer to President George Bush. They said the Jordanian forces were offered to help both in humanitarian missions as well as to protect key installations, such as airports.

"Jordan has offered the use of their Special Operations Forces," Robert Andrews, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, said. "King Abdullah, who was leading that unit before his father died, made an offer to us."

Andrews, in a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, would not elaborate. The official would not say whether Washington has accepted the offer.

U.S. officials said the Pentagon has a shortage of special operations forces in Afghanistan and has sought help from allies. So far, Britain, France and Turkey have sent elite units to participate in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

The U.S. military has about 45,000 personnel in the special forces. They include such units as SEAL, Special Forces and Air Force Air Commandos.

Amman's effort to send troops to Afghanistan has been opposed by Islamic opposition groups in Jordan. The groups have threatened to bring the government to court for violating the Jordanian constitution that prevents the use of the military except in national defense.

But King Abdullah appears intent on helping the U.S.-led war against terrorism. In an interview on Thursday with the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat, Abdullah said Jordan has been a chief target of Islamic insurgents.

"Jordan has in the past countered terrorism, for it was a target of terrorists," Abdullah said. "When we fight side by side with an international alliance, Jordan is, in fact, defending itself. Since we have the expertise to deal with terror, the people feel safe and are not worried about the consequence of the current crisis and violence in general."

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