Jordinian officials yesterday dismissed a claim of responsibility for Monday's killing of a US diplomat in Amman.
A group calling itself Shurafaa al-Urdan (the Honourables of Jordan), sent a statement to the London-based pan-Arab daily Al-Quds al-Arabi saying that Mr Laurence Foley, an employee of United States Aid for International Development, was assassinated to protest at Washington's backing for Israel and the "bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan". The group previously announced its existence in August 2001 by claiming the murder of an Israeli businessman, Mr Yitzak Snir. The Jordanian police also rejected that claim, saying investigations indicated he had been killed for business rather than political motives. No-one has been apprehended for the killing.
Jordanian security forces rounded up scores of political activists in a hunt for Mr Foley's killers. "There is a wide-scale security sweep taking place as part of our hunt for the perpetrators," one security official said.
Mr. Foley's murder has shocked the Jordanian government, which has been trying to maintain traditional ties with Washington despite US support of Israel and its determination to wage war against Iraq.
King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania, visited the fortress-like US embassy where they signed the condolence book. They also met Mr Foley's widow, Mrs. Virginia Foley, who found her husband's body in the drive near his car after the shooting. Since no shots were heard, it is thought the killer used a silencer on his 7mm pistol. Witnesses said they saw a masked man near the Foley home at the time of the shooting.
The US Ambassador, Mr. Edward Gnehm, said there had been no threats or warnings. Mr Foley had been involved in a $5 billion project to bring potable water to Jordanians, who have suffered a serious shortage of water over the past five years due to drought.
Security has been stepped up at US embassies in the region.
