NEW CRISIS IN JORDAN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 11

NEW CRISIS IN JORDAN

Army Chief Flees After Resigning

Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) AMMAN, April 20. Jordan faced a new political crisis tonight after the surprise resignation of MajorGeneral Ah Hiyari, the Army Chief of Staff.

General Hiyari, reported to have left hurriedly for Damascus, took office early this week after an abortive Army revolt. His resignation—reported to be caused by King Hussein s arbitrary action in dismissing 60 Army officers—shocked observers who had regarded the crisis- as resolved.

Reliable sources said the National Socialists might now demand that Mr Suleiman Nabulsi, the former Prime Minister, should resign from his Cabinet post of Foreign Minister. T „ .TJlj B would pose a threat to Dr. Hussein Khalidi s newly-formed Administration, the observers said.

The American Associated Press quoted the well-informed independent Damascus paper, “Al Raidy”, as saying in a special edition today that General Hiyari resigned in protest against the policy of the new Jordan Cabinet. It predicted that several Jordan Cabinet Ministers would resign shortly and described the situation in Jordan as extremely tense. Observers forecast a new and more serious crisis if Mr Nabulsi should resign. They said the gap between the opposing factions in Jordan was now wide open again. For the last few days the Government and the palace have been emphasising the return to normality, and the resignation of General Hiyari burst upon the capital without any warning. One informed source said General Hiyari went to Damascus, and that his father-in-law, Sudkhi Khassin, had followed in an attempt to bring him back to Amman.

The Jordan Government tonight issued' an official communique signed by the Prime Minister, which said General Hiyari telephoned his resignation from Damascus in the early hours of this morning. The communique said the Cabinet had decided to appoint Major-General Habbes Majjali acting-chief of the general staff until it finally decided who would succeed General Hiyari.