AMMAN, November 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - U.S. Consul Les Hickman has been "relieved of his responsibilities" amid an investigation into embezzlement involving a visa scam at the U.S. embassy in Amman, diplomatic sources said Wednesday, November 27.

The probe - the first of its kind in Jordan - is focusing on "large sums of money" paid by individuals for visas to the United States, which has restricted the entry of foreigners following last year's attacks, the sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Hickman, consular chief and first secretary at the U.S. embassy in Amman since July 2000, will be sacked if he is found guilty of involvement in any such scam, the sources added.

A U.S. embassy source questioned by AFP "confirmed that an investigation by U.S. and Jordanian investigators is underway into the allegations".

The source also confirmed that "two local employees were terminated" at the embassy, though one was sacked for reasons that had nothing to do with the visa affair.

"The first person was terminated for something totally different while the second employee is in custody and under investigation about these allegations," the U.S. embassy source said. He declined to elaborate.

Hickman is married to a Jordanian.

Prior to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, visa applications were often processed in only a day, Hickman had said in October 2002.

"Now, however, all visas for men between the ages of 15 and 45 undergo a special screening process in Washington", he added.