Jordan's king vows to hunt down hotel bombers

AMMAN - Jordan's King Abdullah has pledged to "pull from their holes" militants behind three suicide bombings that ripped through luxury hotels in Jordan's capital and killed 56 people.

In one of the worst attacks to hit Jordan in modern history, two suicide bombers turned crowded wedding parties into scenes of blood and panic at the Grand Hyatt and the nearby Radisson SAS in central Amman. A third attacker targeted a Days Inn hotel.

"We will pursue those criminals and those who are behind them, and we will reach them wherever they are," the monarch said in a televised address one day after bombers staged the near-simultaneous attacks claimed by al Qaeda group in Iraq.

"We will pull them from their holes and bring them to justice," a stern King Abdullah said, wearing a traditional Arab head-dress and a dark Western-style suit and tie in a brief message that appeared aimed at reassuring stunned Jordanians.

"We will confront these cowardly terrorist groups that have no religion or conscience."

Deputy Prime Minister Marwan al-Muasher told reporters: "The operation was executed by three suicide bombers who were wearing explosive belts. Two entered the hotels, the other blew himself up outside the hotel in a car."

He said the blasts killed 56 people and wounded 96.

Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said in a statement on an Islamist website that "a group of our best lions" had carried out the attacks against the hotels because they were used by United States (US) and Israeli spies.

"Some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot had turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith, the Jews and crusaders," said the statement, referring to Jordan's King Abdullah. Its authenticity could not be immediately verified.

The hotels are frequented by Western security contractors, journalists and aid agency staff, many of whom use Amman as a transit point or base for their operations in Iraq.

But most victims were Jordanians. China said three of its nationals were killed. A Palestinian diplomat said a senior Palestinian officer and two other officials had died.

Police spokesman Bashir al-Da'jeh said five Iraqis, a Saudi and an Indonesian were also among the dead. One American was killed and one wounded, a US embassy spokesman said.

"The world saw with horror the attacks on innocent people in Jordan by killers who defile a great religion," US President George W Bush told reporters in Washington, adding the US and its allies must remain firm in fighting terrorism.

Washington had already put a US$25 million ($37m) bounty on Zarqawi.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Farouq Kasrawi said the attacks would not alter the policies of the kingdom, a close US ally bordered by Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, en route to the Middle East, said Washington would offer any help it could and might include Amman in her regional tour.

"If they believe it would be helpful we would make a stop," she said at Ireland's Shannon Airport. She is due to visit Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank.

Jordan is one of two Arab countries that have signed peace treaties with Israel. It helped Washington in the war in Iraq.

Schools, businesses and public offices closed as the stunned kingdom mourned. Security forces threw up roadblocks around hotels and embassies. Flags flew at half-mast.

About 300 people waving Jordanian flags and portraits of King Abdullah protested near the Radisson on Thursday. "Zarqawi, you are scum," read one placard.

- REUTERS