1.
GV AMMAN STREET
0.13

2.
LV CLOSED SHOPS
0.16

3.
GV TRAFFIC ALONG STREET
0.21

4.
LV CLOSED SHOP
0.24

5.
GV MONEY MARKET CLOSED
0.29

6.
LV TILT DOWN MOSQUE OF AL HUSSEINI AND SQUARE WHERE BOMB EXPLODED
0.45

7.
GV SQUARE WHERE BOMB EXPLODED
0.50



Initials LD/VS/PN/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MANY SHOPS AND THE MONEY MARKETS OF AMMAN WERE CLOSED YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) AFTER A BOMB EXPLOSION OUTSIDE THE AL HUSSEINI MOSQUE -- THE BIGGEST IN THE JORDANIAN CAPITAL -- WHICH INJURED 15 PEOPLE.

THE BOMB EXPLODED AS DEMONSTRATORS WERE MARCHING PAST THE MOSQUE IN PROTEST AGAINST THE ACTION OF THE LEBANESE ARMY IN CRACKING DOWN ON PALESTINIAN COMMANDOS IN SOUTH LEBANON.

SECURITY FORCES LAUNCHED AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXPLOSION, BUT REFUSED TO MAKE ANY POSITIVE STATEMENT ABOUT WHO MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBING.

THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF ITS KIND SINCE NOVEMBER 1968 -- WHEN THERE WAS A TENSE CONFRONTATION ON AMMAN BETWEEN THE JORDANIAN ARMY AND COMMANDO UNITS.

THIS EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH A SERIES OF BOMBINGS IN HAIFA -- FOR WHICH BOTH THE AL FATAH COMMANDOS AND THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE HAVE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.