(7 Feb 1999) Arabic/Nat
King Hussein of Jordan has died.
Jordan's information minister said he died on Sunday of complications relating to cancer.
Thousands of Jordanians had been keeping vigil outside the King Hussein Medical City where the king lay, and church services had offered special prayers for the monarch earlier on Sunday.
Prayers for the monarch, before his death was announced on Sunday.
A special mass was held at this Greek catholic church in Amman.
Around six per cent of the Jordanian population is Christian, and most belong to the Greek orthodox church.
Messages of support had been coming in from around the world.
In Damascus, the Syrian foreign minister had expressed his sorrow at the monarch's illness.
He denied speculations, published in Israel, that Syria would make any moves on Jordan during the uncertainty of succession.
He made no comment about Hussein's chosen successor to the throne - Crown Prince Abdullah - who has now been officially named king.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"We are sorry for the deterioration of the King's health. Nobody should think otherwise. It is an internal affair. The succession is an internal issue. As I said we did not cause tension in Syrian Jordanian ties, because we have no interest in having differences with Jordan, but the brothers - I mean the political will - is not entirely independent. Israel is pressuring them. The peace process has turned into a worth and close relationship which does not match ties between Jordan and any other Arab country. We feel bitter because of this, and the lack of normal ties between Jordan and us or even the unilateral steps, which they took despite our position regarding this. We did not want to make that a big issue as some of our brothers are making regarding August 2nd 1990 (Iraq's invasion of Kuwait). We should not give advice to others and not implement them on ourselves."
SUPER CAPTION: Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa
The late Jordanian leader's illness failed to inspire much coverage by Syria's state-controlled media at a time when Assad's bid for a fifth, seven-year term in office is dominating news.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"We want good for our brothers in Jordan. I said the Jordanian people with all their political parties, including Leader of Tribes, send us hundreds and thousand of cables (telegrams) on each occasion, especially the renewal of President Assad's term as president. They are our family and brothers. We want nothing but good for them."
SUPER CAPTION: Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa
Right up until King Hussein's death on Sunday, Jordanians continued their vigil outside the hospital where he lay.
It's the end of an era for this nation.
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