Assassins say Hussein ‘under death sentence'

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32778, 1 December 1971, Page 17

Assassins say Hussein ‘under death sentence '

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) CAIRO, November 30. King Hussein of Jordan and his whole family are under sentence of death from the assassins who killed his Prime Minister on Sunday, it was reported in Cairo today.

The “Al-Akhba” newspaper reported that the “Black September” organisation to which the four alleged assassins belonged, had sworn to kill the entire Jordanian Royal family and the Army commander, General Habes el Majali, to avenge the Palestinians killed in clashes with the Jordan Army last September.

Egyptian officials who have questioned the four men accused of killing the Prime Minister, Mr Wasfi Tell, say that they have admitted flying to Pakistan earlier as an execution squad to try to kill King Hussein’s brother, Crown Prince Hassan, but failed because of tight security precautions. Cairo police, who have completed their questioning of the four men and are expected to issue an indictment today or tomorrow, revealed last night that they were looking now for a fifth man. The man, so far unnamed by police, is known to have visited the other four shortly before the assassination was carried out at the Sheraton Hotel. “Al-Akhbar” said that the four would be tried before a

Supreme State Security Court, and informed sources said that the trial could be expected shortly. The four are being held under close guard at Cairo’s Citadel Prison.

The prosecution announced yesterday that the four men would be charged with premeditated murder—a charge carrying' the death penalty—as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Mr Hassan Omar, who has been handling the interrogation, last night named 27-year-old Ezzat Ahmed Rabah —a Haifa-born Palestinian student at Beirut’s American University—as the leader of the assassination. Rabah told police that he had carried out 13 commando operations inside Israel and that several members of his family were erushed by a Jordanian tank. Rabah is said to have admitted firing the first shot at Mr Tell as he stepped out of his car at the hotel. He is alleged to have told investigators that he shouted to the Prime Minister that Palestinians were, “Not women as you have described them," and then, “Let him have it.” Mr Tell was buried yesterday with full honours *n Amman.

Meanwhile Mr Tell’s successor, Mr Ahmed al-Lawzi, who was Finance Minister, has arrived in Cairo and was still Jaking part in a mara-

thon session of the Arab League’s Joint Defence Council early today. Armed police ringed the Arab League building beside the Nile as Mr Lawzi arrived from the airport, and reporters were closely watched. The council is studying a report from Arab chiefs of staff on a unified plan of action against Israel and is expected to complete its meeting within a few hours. According to the arrested men, Mr Tell’s assassination was a revenge killing for the death of Abou Ali Iyyad, who commanded guerrilla forces in North Jordan during tough Army-guerrilla fighting last July. , The Palestinian said Iyyad told him that if he died in Jordanian hands, he (the Palestinian) shoud kill Tell in reprisal. Sources said that the arrested men joked with investigators and freely acknowledged their part in the killing. Guerrilla communiques at the time said Iyyad was entrenched in the forests of Jerash when King Hussein’s Bedouin troops, in a sweep believed planned by Mr Tell, moved against Palestinian guerrilla bases throughout North Jordan. They said he was captured by the Army and tortured to death. He was later given a ceremonial “funeral’’ in Damascus.