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Jordan Denies Saddam's Cousin Seeking Asylum
AMMAN, Sept 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Jordan has denied that a cousin of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is seeking asylum in the kingdom, the English daily
Jordan Times reported Tuesday.
The government announced it had not received any appeal from an Iraqi citizen claiming to be Saddam's cousin, the
Jordan Times quoted an unnamed Jordanian official as saying.
"The man is neither a relative of Saddam Hussein, nor a political figure in Iraq; he is an impostor who fled Iraq recently to avoid fraud charges," the official said.
The Iraqi man, identified as Alaa Majid, arrived in Amman a few days ago and stated to foreign journalists in the kingdom that he was a cousin and former aide of Saddam Hussein, and that he wanted to seek asylum in an Arab country due to differences with the Iraqi government.
Majid, 47, however, said he was not seeking asylum in Jordan and will leave the kingdom for Yemen Wednesday. He refused to say whether family members accompanied him.
Majid, who is staying in an Amman hotel, was scheduled to meet Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan, Yassin Sabah, on Monday, but later changed his mind, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Sabah telephoned Majid Monday evening requesting the meeting and Majid accepted the encounter, but then backed off, although the diplomat went to the hotel to see him, AFP added.
An aide to Majid told AFP Monday that Sabah was expected to "submit proposals to solve this problem".
A witness said that Sabah tried twice to see Majid, but was told he refused to meet him.
The ambassador, however, who spoke to the The Jordan Times in the lobby of the hotel where Majid was staying, said hotel management prevented him from visiting Majid in his room, and that Majid was prevented from descending to the hotel lobby.
Majid told AFP in Amman that he was seeking asylum in an Arab country following what he termed "differences" with the Iraqi government.
"I am looking for an Arab country to give me asylum and protection because I can no longer return to Iraq because of differences," Majid told AFP by telephone. He presented himself to the news agency as a cousin and former aide of the Iraqi president.
The Iraqi national said he did not ask for political asylum in Jordan.
Majid said he left Iraq for Morocco more than two months ago "on a mission" but was unable to go back because of "differences" with the Baghdad regime. He said he came to Amman 10 days ago.
In August 1995, two sons-in-law of Saddam Hussein, including General Hussein Kamel Hassan, sought refuge in Amman. Six months later, they returned to Baghdad where, according to the official line, "family members" killed them.
The Jordanian government has, in recent years, appeared cautious in handling alleged asylum issues concerning Iraqi citizens.
The 1995 episode created rifts between the two traditionally friendly countries, as Jordan called for political changes in Iraq following the event.
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