King Abdullah of Jordan urges anti-terror strategy
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Jordan's King Abdullah II opened parliament Thursday with a vigorous call for a strategy to confront terrorism, saying security and stability were a greater priority than ever following the Nov. 9 suicide bombings of three Amman hotels.
Abdullah told lawmakers that the blasts claimed by the al-Qaida in Iraq group targeted Jordan because of its "location, its message and positions," a reference to his nation's pro-Western outlook, its embrace of moderate Islam and its lying between Israel and Iraq.
"These attacks impose upon (Jordan) the largest security challenge to ever confront it," the king told a joint session of the upper and lower chambers, interrupted by loud applause and cries of "Long live the king!"