1.
GTV TROOPS AND ARMOURED CARS PATROL AMMAN.
0.15

2.
LV DITTO.
0.20

3.
TV ARMOURED CARS AND TROOPS.
0.32

4.
GV GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
0.39

5.
LV PREMIER SHERIFF BEN NASSER ARRIVES.
0.46

6.
CU BEN NASSER STEPS INTO BUILDING.
0.54

7.
LV GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
0.59



Initials IT/S/AW/GH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ARMED TROOPS AND POLICE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ARE KEEPING FIRM CONTROL OF ALL THE MAJOR TOWNS IN JORDAN AFTER DEMONSTRATIONS YESTERDAY AND THE WEEKEND IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC.REPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL, AMMAN, STILL UNDER CURFEW, SAY THE SITUATION IS NOW GENERALLY QUIET.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, KING HUSSEIN IN SAID THAT DEMONSTRATIONS IN SUPPORT OF ARAB UNITY -- "ONE OF OUR DEAREST AIMS" -- HAD UNFORTUNATELY BEEN EXPLOITED BY SUBVERSIVE ELEMENTS TRYING TO DISRUPT JORDAN'S CO-OPERATION WITH THE ARAB WORLD.HIS COUNTRY WAS WILLING TO CO-OPERATE IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO ON A PROPER BASIS.

KING HUSSEIN SAID HE COULD NOT NAME THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTURBANCES UNTIL A FULL INQUIRY HAD BEEN COMPLETED, BUT CERTAIN DEPUTIES AND TEACHERS HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR INVESTIGATION.THE KING ADDED THERE WAS NO NEED OF FOREIGN AID FOR JORDAN, AND HE WAS CONFIDENT STABILITY WOULD SOON BE REGAINED.HE WAS SPEAKING ONLY A FEW HOURS AFTER SECURITY FORCES HAD DISPERSED THREE SMALL DEMONSTRATIONS STAGED LARGELY BY STUDENTS, AS AT THE WEEKEND.

THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT, FORMED AFTER THE KING DISSOLVED PARLIAMENT FOLLOWING THE DISTURBANCES, HAS WARNED IT "WILL STRIKE WITH AN IRON FISH" AGAINST ANY TROUBLE MAKERS.THE NEW PRIME MINISTER, THE KING'S UNCLE, SHERIFF HUSSEIN BEN NASSER, YESTERDAY ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.HE HAS SAID HIS MAIN JOB WILL BE TO PREPARE FOR FREE, GENERAL ELECTIONS WITHIN FOUR MONTHS.