JORDAN GAGS MEDIA ON CASE INVOLVING EX-CROWN PRINCE

Jordan's top prosecutor on Tuesday banned the publication of any information or material relating to a case in which ex-crown prince Hamzah is involved in a plot to destabilize the kingdom, Nehal El-Sharif reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

The ban aims to preserve the secrecy of the investigations conducted by the security services, the prosecutor said in a statement, according to the official Petra news agency.

"The ban includes audio and visual media and social networking sites, and the publication and circulation of any pictures or videos related to this topic," read the statement.

The government said it had foiled over the weekend a destabilizing plot involving Prince Hamzah, King Abdullah's half-brother. Investigations showed there were movements by Hamzah and others that were targeting the kingdom's stability and security, and that they were in contact with "foreign parties," the authorities said on Sunday. Several high-profile individuals have since been arrested.

The Jordanian army denied Hamzah was under house arrest, but that he was asked to refrain from activities that could be damaging to the kingdom's stability. In recorded videos, Hamzah said the army told him not to leave his house or communicate with anyone.

Two audio recordings by Hamzah have been circulating on social media since Saturday. One is of a conversation between Hamzah and the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Yousef Ahmed al-Hunaiti.

These recordings have been praised by some Jordanians, who praised his defiant tone and condemnation of corruption in the country.

Hamzah, 41, is a popular figure in Jordan, and his social gatherings with senior tribesmen are welcomed by many as a reflection of his closeness to the people.

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