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The sudden visit to COVID victims' families that sparked Jordan's royal rift
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| Contributor | IndyGeorgia |
| Last Edited | IndyGeorgia Apr 08, 2021 08:08pm |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Apr 08, 2021 05:50pm |
| Description | AMMAN (Reuters) -When Prince Hamza visited the relatives of COVID-19 patients who died after a hospital ran out of oxygen, he triggered a rift in Jordan’s monarchy that has shaken the country’s reputation as a stable country in a volatile region.
The March 14 visit to the city of Salt was, in the words of a senior establishment figure, the “straw that broke the camel’s back”, coming as it did hours after King Abdullah had visited the hospital and publicly scolded management for the nine deaths.
Hamza made the trip to console the bereaved six days before Prince Hussein went to the city to do the same, a move that some officials said had upstaged his younger rival for the throne.
Reuters spoke to more than a dozen officials, former officials and palace insiders about the events leading to the accusations against Hamza. They spoke on condition of anonymity in order to be able to discuss sensitive issues.
Eight people familiar with the situation said that Hamza’s visit had undermined his half-brother the king, and prompted authorities to place him under house arrest and accuse him of involvement in activities aimed at destabilising the country. |
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