Monday, November 29, 2004

Jordan's king strips half brother of crown prince title

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) _ Jordan's King Abdullah II stripped his half brother and heir apparent of his title as crown prince in an abrupt shakeup Sunday aimed at redeeming the full power the king inherited from his late father.

Abdullah told Prince Hamzah in an emotional televised message that he "decided to free you from the constraints of the position of Crown Prince in order to give you the freedom to work and undertake any mission or responsibility I entrust you with.''

Abdullah had chosen Hamzah, now a 24-year-old American college student, hours after their father _ King Hussein _ died of cancer in February 1999. The designation was out of respect for Hussein, who is known to have favored Hamzah the most among his 11 children from four marriages.

The late king had often described Hamzah in public as the "delight of my eye.'' Sunday's shakeup is the culmination of consultations between Abdullah and his brothers, who met earlier and "reached mutual consent on the need for change,'' a senior government official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. He declined to say if Hamzah, who returned home Friday on a short break from college, was present.

There was no visible rivalry between Abdullah and Hamzah. The king hosted a state reception and a gala dinner for Hamzah on May 27, when the royal family officially celebrated the prince's wedding to a distant cousin, which had taken place months earlier. Abdullah is also often seen warmly greeting his brother in public. Officials say privately that the king lets Hamzah in on private matters.

Mahmoud Kharabsheh, a lawmaker and longtime member of parliament's Legal Committee, said the change was in line with the constitution, which stipulates that the crown must go to Abdullah's eldest son _ Hussein, now age 10 _ or to the king's eldest brother, Faisal, but not to Hamzah, who is one of the king's younger brothers.

Jordanian political analyst Labib Kamhawi said Hamzah's appointment five years ago "was only out of respect for Hussein's wish.''

"King Abdullah inherited this legacy, which he's changing now to tell everyone that he's firmly on the saddle and he doesn't have to go by the previous distribution of power within the family,'' Kamhawi added.

Abdullah did not name a successor on Sunday. The king, a ruler with absolute powers that include dissolving parliament and ruling by decree, said he will continue to give the issue of a crown prince "my sincere attention'' _ a vague term that indicates that nomination was unlikely soon.

A senior aide to the king downplayed the significance of the move, saying it carried no political ramifications.

In his unexpected message, read over the state television, Abdullah praised Hamzah, describing him as a "sincere Jordanian soldier.''

"I chose you personally five years ago from amongst all my brothers, including those who are older than you, to be Crown Prince and to be my support whenever necessary,'' Abdullah said. "I have been eager since I came to the throne of our beloved Jordan to reflect the true meaning of the position of crown prince as it is stated in the Constitution. This position is an honorary one that does not entail any authority or any responsibility. "

"Your holding this symbolic position has restrained your freedom and hindered our entrusting you with certain responsibilities that you are fully qualified to undertake,'' he said.

Hamzah has been an undergraduate student in political science at a U.S. university since the fall of 2001. He was married in August 2003 and his wife, Princess Noor, 22, attends the same American university, which Jordanian officials have refused to name for security reasons.

The prince, who went to the college in the United States after serving in Jordan's military, has in the past delivered speeches urging reform in Muslim thinking and criticizing Islamic extremism. But in his role as crown prince, he had no political duties.

Abdullah himself became crown prince just 12 days before his father's death, in a major surprise and upheaval, when Hussein stripped the title from his brother, Hassan. At the time, the severely ill Hussein accused Hassan of trying to grab power.

As crown prince, Hamzah's duties have included representing the king at events at home and abroad. He also oversaw several national institutions, including a prominent think tank. Hamzah, who resembles his father in looks, bearing and husky voice, is Hussein's son from his fourth marriage, to New York-born Lisa Halaby, who took the name Queen Noor when she converted to Islam upon her marriage to Hussein in 1978.

Abdullah is Hussein's eldest son. His mother is Englishwoman Antoinette Gardiner, who became known as Princess Muna, the late king's second wife.

Hamzah attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England, graduating as a commissioned officer in the Jordan Arab Army in 1999, where he now holds the rank of captain. He has served in the past with the Jordan-United Arab Emirates force in the former Yugoslavia as part of an international peacekeeping force. - AP

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