Zarqawi 'prime bombing suspect'

2005-11-10 14:44

Amman - Al-Qaeda's frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is the "prime suspect" in the deadly hotel bombings that killed 57 people, say Jordanian deputy prime minister Marwan Moasher on Thursday.

Moasher said: "We can't confirm it yet for sure, but Zarqawi is certainly the prime suspect in the hotel attacks.

"The national security council chaired by King Abdullah will meet at midday to evaluate the situation.

"Al-Qaeda and ... Zarqawi were certainly involved in the rocket attacks in Aqaba a few months ago, and, you know, I'm positive he's a prime suspect in this case as well."

Jordan had blamed Zarqawi's al-Qaeda group for a rocket attack in August targeting the United States warships in the Red Sea port of Aqaba.

Zarqawi condemned to death

The rockets missed two US warships docked in the port, but one hit a warehouse, killing a Jordanian soldier, while another landed across the border in the neighbouring Israeli resort of Eilat.

One person was arrested in connection with the Aqaba attack, while two others fled to neighbouring Iraq.

Zarqawi, who was Jordanian, had been condemned to death in absentia in Jordan for the 2002 murder of a US diplomat in Amman. He was Iraq's most wanted man and had a $25m US bounty on his head

Moasher confirmed that foreigners were among those killed in Wednesday evening's bombings of the Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels, but said that "most of the 57 people dead were Jordanians".

He said: "So far there are 57 dead" and 110 others were still being treated in hospitals.

Hospital officials said on Wednesday that more than 300 people were wounded in the attacks. China reported that three of its citizens were among the dead.

- AFP