Jordan beefed up security measures ahead of the Davos forum

By Tareq Delwani, IOL Amman Correspondent

AMMAN, June 6 (IslamOnline.net) – The U.S. State Department warned, in a recent statement, of possible "terrorist attacks" on the sidelines of an extraordinary Davos economic forum to be hosted by Jordan on June 21-23.

The forum will be attended by representatives from Arab countries, Europe and the United States, with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as the guest of honor.

Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon will also be attending with an economic delegation grouping eight of Israel’s heavyweight businessmen.

The Israeli Yediot Aharonot daily reported Thursday, June 5, on its website that Israeli Trade, Industry and Labor Minister Ehud Olmert will also join the Israeli delegation.

Olmert will address participants on foreign investments and how to capitalize on investment potentials in the Middle East, it added.

The American report, unveiled to IslamOnline.net Thursday by well-informed sources of the U.S. Embassy vocalized concerns of a "terrorist" attack against the forum.

The sources told IOL that the State Department asked the embassy to convey the warning to American citizens and economists who will attend the forum.

The report stressed that Jordan has become an easy target of possible "terrorist" attacks, citing an audiotape allegedly of Ayman Al-Zawahri, Al-Qaeda second-in-command, aired on May 21.

In the said tape, Zawahri called for launching attacks against western interests and condemned several Arab allies to the U.S., fingering Jordan.

Analysts said the speech may have signaled countries that would be target of Al-Qaeda attacks in the future.

Jordanian authorities have, therefore, beefed up security measures along the road linking Amman and the Dead Sea area, where the two-day forum is expected to be convened.

About 1900 economists and politicians from different world countries are expected to attend the economic event, including directors of multi-national firms and chiefs of international organizations.

The Jordanian sea port of Aqaba hosted on Wednesday, June 4, a summit meeting between U.S. President George Bush, Palestinian Premier Mahmoud Abbas and Sharon.