AMMAN Ñ Jordan has recalled its ambassador from Iran over
charges that the Islamic republic has encouraged insurgency attacks in
the Hashemite kingdom.
Jordan withdrew its ambassador, Bassam Amoush, last week without
explanation. For the last year, Amoush had been complaining
to Teheran authorities of Iranian violations of Jordanian security.
Jordanian sources said Amoush's recall comes as the kingdom is
reshuffling its diplomatic corps, Middle East Newsline reported. This has included the replacement of
Jordan's ambassadors in such countries as Japan, Switzerland and the United
States.
Earlier this year, Amoush was quoted in a Jordanian newspaper as saying
that Iran had violated Jordanian security. The assertion angered Teheran and
Iran's
ambassador in Amman convened a news conference to reject the charges.
Amoush is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan and was appointed
by then-Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Salaam Majali.
Earlier this year, Jordan's King Abdullah charged Iran with supporting
Islamic insurgents in the Hashemite kingdom. Abdullah was to have visited
Teheran in February 2001, but the trip was indefinitely postponed.
