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Jordan’s allies on Sunday came around King Abdullah II after his half-brother said he had been placed under house arrest following public criticism of how the country is run.
Prince Hamzah, the half-brother of Abdullah II, declared on Saturday he has been put under house arrest and attacked the country’s “ruling system” of incompetence and corruption.
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It comes after a several high-level captures supposed to be connected to an alleged stroke plot.
Prince Hamzah’s videotaped statement were issued after the country’s official news agency reported that two retired senior officials and other suspects had been captured for “security purposes.”
Authorities doubted that Hamzah had been detained or placed under house arrest. The crisis appeared to have little direct effect on outside support for Abdullah.
“King Abdullah is a key ally of the United States, and he has our full support,” US State Department spokesperson Ned Price stated.
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The US reflects Jordan a primary ally, granting it way to military facilities and assistance. The area receives some 3,000 American troops.
Gulf Arab countries also now issued comments supporting the king and his government.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency stated the kingdom’s supreme court supported King Abdullah’s forces “to have security and stability and defuse every effort to influence them.”
Queen Noor among critics
Early on Sunday, Hamzah’s mother, Queen Noor, showed sympathy for “innocent victims,” claiming she was also placed under house arrest.
“Praying that truth and truth will prevail for all the young victims of this wicked slander. God bless and keep them secure,” she tweeted.
Hamzah ‘punished’
In a video leaked to the BBC, Hamzah — a ex crown prince removed of his power in 2004 — announced he was attended early Saturday by the country’s army chief and stated he could not go out and communicate with people or meet with them.