Jordan and a US counter-terrorism team are hunting the killer of a senior US diplomat and introducing tough security measures around the US and other Western embassies.
A gunman shot Mr Laurence Foley (62) a senior administrator at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), three times in the chest outside his Amman home yesterday.
It was the first killing of a Western diplomat in Jordan and came amid rising anti-American sentiment fuelled by perceived US bias towards Israel and threats by Washington of a military campaign against neighbouring Iraq.
"We are closely working with the Jordanian authorities to apprehend the person or persons responsible for this crime and we will not rest until they are found," said US ambassador to Jordan, Mr Edward Gnehm.
Police and paramilitary units set up roadblocks on main city roads. Heightened security was seen at state institutions and ministries, and more patrols and extra guards were in place at Western embassies.