The death toll from a series of blasts that rocked three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman on Wednesday night has climbed to at least 57, Xinhua News Agency today quoted Jordan’s Deputy Prime Marwan Moasher as saying. 

Over 300 others were wounded in the blasts at the Grand Hyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn hotels in Amman, Moasher said on state television.

 

According to the Xinhua, the Chinese Embassy in Jordan said three members of a visiting Chinese military delegation were killed and another one injured.

 

"The attacks were carried out either by individuals wearing explosives on their belts or in one instance by a car that attempted to cross through the security barrier," said Moasher, adding that most of the victims were Jordanians.  

 

Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who is visiting Kazakhstan, condemned the bombing attacks as criminal acts committed by a few of stray individuals, Jordanian TV reported.

 

He said they would not sway the country’s role in combating terror, and he vowed to bring those responsible to justice, as Jordan would "remain a safe country."

 

Police said the biggest explosion happened at the Radisson SAS hotel where a wedding parting was being held.

 

The attacks bore the trademarks of the al-Qaida terror network, police said, adding that investigations are underway.  

 

Visiting the Grand Hyatt hotel, Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran ordered schools and government offices to close today.

 

Meanwhile, police have cordoned off hotels and embassies in the capital.

 

Shortly after the blasts, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Jordan on Thursday.

 

The targeted hotels, owned by what Xinhua called “American interests,” are frequented by foreign tourists and diplomats, police said, warning that there may be higher casualties.

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2005)