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GV Parliament Bldg. with people outside
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CU Sign over Bldg. and coat of arms
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SV Deputies outside speaking and entering Bldg.
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SV and CU Ministers seated.
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LV Deputies seated
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LV Ministers seated
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SV Cameramen and Journalists out of building
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SV Police watch
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SV Door being closed
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LV Police in jeep in street.
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Initials BB/JH/VH/1310 BB/JH/VH/1320



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Jordanian Parliament met in secret session on Tuesday (January 12) in Amman to hear the Government's account of the current fighting and unrest in the country.

In spite of the call for an immediate ceasefire by both the Government and Palestine guerrilla leaders, sporadic gunfire continued in Amman, but there was no official confirmation of reported fighting between guerrillas and Jordanian forces in the Jordan Valley.

Clashes which began last Friday (January 8) have so far not escalated into violence like that of last September when thousands were reported killed or wounded in ten days of bloody fighting.

But the current gunfire, which was heaviest on Monday (January 11), is holding the country in a state of tension. Normal life and commerce has been disrupted.

In a speech before Parliament went into secret session, Jordanian Prime Minister Mr. Wasfi Tell told Deputies and Ministers that a meeting between himself and PLO representatives, planned for later in the day, was intended to bring a quick end to all problems. He added that he hoped the ceasefire statement, broadcast by Radio Amman, would help to end the disturbances and restore law and order.

Mr. Tell also referred to the work of the Higher Arab Follow-Up Committee, set up to normalise relations between the Government and the Commandos under the September 27 Cairo Agreement.

Observers in Amman said that whatever, the outcome of the meeting between the Government and the commandos, improvement in the situation depended on the result of talks in London between King Hussein and Mr. Bahi Ladgham, Chairman of the Follow-Up Committee.