1.
GV PEOPLE CROSSING BRIDGE
0.05

2.
SV SOLDIER CHECKING DOCUMENTS
0.08

3.
GV PEOPLE WALKING FROM BRIDGE
0.16

4.
SV PEOPLE BOARDING BUS AND LOADING LUGGAGE
0.29

5.
GV MORE PEOPLE CROSSING BRIDGE
0.34

6.
SV CUSTOMS POST
0.35

7.
SV PEOPLE WAITING AT CUSTOMS POST (2 SHOTS)
0.46

8.
SV OLD WOMAN SHOWING PAPERS
0.53

9.
CV WOMAN CRYING
1.01

10.
SV OTHER WOMAN HAVING PAPERS CHECKED
1.06

11.
SV PEOPLE GOING ON TO BUS (2 SHOTS)
1.15



Initials AH/V/AS/MH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS IMPOSED SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON ARABS CROSSING BORDER BRIDGES INTO THE COUNTRY FROM THE ISRAELI-CONTROLLED WEST BANK OF THE RIVER JORDAN. AT THE ALLENBY BRIDGE YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) ONLY THE HOLDERS OF JORDANIAN PASSPORTS WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE THE WEST-EAST CROSSING.

NO RESIDENTS OF THE GAZA STRIP ARE BEING PERMITTED INTO JORDAN. THE AUTHORITIES IN AMMAN HAVE IMPOSED THE RESTRICTIONS TO COMBAT ALLEGED ISRAELI EFFORTS TO FORCE ARAB RESIDENTS TO LEAVE THE GAZA STRIP AND WEST BANK AREAS. ISRAEL HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS.

IN THE PAST, ARABS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CROSS FREELY INTO JORDAN BY AMMAN -- AND ABOUT 200,000 REFUGEES HAVE MOVED TO THE EAST BANK SINCE THE JUNE WAR OF 1967.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE TURNED BACK BY JORDANIANS AT THE ALLENBY BRIDGE WERE HOLDING ISRAELI TRAVEL PERMITS.