Jordanians Marched the Streets in Protest

The Jordanian people showed their anger yesterday towards the Wednesday attacks which killed 56 people and wounded tens.

Jordanians marched the streets holding anti-terrorism banners and chanting patriotic hymns in which they manifested their loyalty to King Abdullah II and denounced Abu Musab Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.

More than half of those killed in the blasts, 33, were Jordanians, Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said Thursday. Others killed included six Iraqis, two Bahrainis, two Chinese, an Indonesian, a Syrian, a Saudi and an American. Madison Conoley, spokesman for the embassy, said he could not confirm reports that as many as four other Americans were injured.

The three explosions shook the Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels in Amman, these being some of the places frequented by westerners.

The al Qaeda group claimed the Wednesday attacks in an online statement in which it was said that "a group of lions have launched a new attack against some dens that were planted in the Muslim land in Amman".

"We will pursue those criminals and those who are behind them, and we will reach them wherever they are," he said in a brief televised address, according to Reuters news agency.

The Amman explosions were followed yesterday by a second suicide attack, this time in Baghdad, in which 35 persons were killed and 25 wounded. This attack was also claimed by al Qaeda.