AMMAN Ñ Jordan's counterterrorist chief has escaped an assassination
plot.
A bomb exploded outside the home of Ali Burjak, head of counterterrorism
at Jordan's General Intelligence Directorate. Burjak was not injured but two
laborers were killed in Thursday's attack.
Details of the bombing remain sketchy. Jordanian sources first reported
that one of the laborers was carrying the bomb. Later, the bombing was said
to have stemmed from a car parked outside Burjak's home in the neighborhood
of Jabal Amman. The car belonged to Burjak's wife.
Earlier this month, Jordan's intelligence service was reported to have
arrested and interrogated dozens of suspects linked to the Al Qaida
movement. One of the suspects was convicted and sentenced to death.
No group claimed responsibility for the bombing. The bombing came hours
after senior Jordanian officials met their Israeli counterparts in both
Amman and Aqaba.
Jordan has been named as a key participant in the U.S.-led war against
terrorism. Jordanian troops have been deployed in Afghanistan and U.S.
officials report a brisk intelligence exchange between Amman and Washington.