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GV Car passing through border post into Syria as cars wait to enter Jordan
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SV Signpost for Al Ramtha, car passes into Syria
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GV,SV & CU Cars queue to enter Jordan (5 shots)
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SVs Custom officers check documents (2 shots)
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GV Jordanian customs building
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GV People enter building
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SVs & CUs INT Documents being marked (7 shots)
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Initials BB/1546 RW/PN/BB/1620



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Syria re-opened its border with Jordan on Friday (1 December) ending a 16-month closure imposed in protest against King Hussein's policy towards Palestinian commandos.

Cars and trucks were queuing at the border and the 125-mile (200-kilometre) road between the capitals, Damascus and Amman, was soon busy. Airline services between the countries will also be resumed shortly.

SYNOPSIS: Traffic began moving again across the border between Syria and Jordan on Friday as Syria ended its sixteen-month closure.

The Al-Ramtha border post was soon busy. Several theories have been put forward for Syria's move. Some observers say it had been missing the money previously raised from duties on traffic crossing Syria between Jordan and other countries. Others attribute the move more to Syria's interest in reactivating the Eastern Front against Israel.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Salah Abu-Zeid Welcome the re-opening as "a magnificent step"--a sentiment obviously echoed by the dozens of Syrians who sought permission to enter Jordan.

The Minister also described the move as "a victory for the Arab nation against Israel." Syria said the action was intended to alleviate the difficulties and burden shouldered by the Jordanian people as a result of the closure, and to allow the Jordanian army to take up its role in the confrontation with the Israeli army.