Jordan on Thursday marked its 60th Independence Day with an array of festivities, including a major celebration at Zahran Palace during which His Majesty King Abdullah addressed the nation.

During the ceremony at the palace, King Abdullah bestowed medals of various types and orders to several former officials, including former premier Ahmad Obeidat, who received the Al Hussein Decoration for Distinguished Contribution, First Order. His successors Faisal Fayez and Adnan Badran were each presented with the Al Nahda Decoration, First Order.

Also on the list of the honored officials were former Amman mayor Nidal Hadid (Al Hussein Decoration for Distinguished Contribution, First Order) and former director of the Media and Information Division at the Royal Court Rania Atallah, on whom the King bestowed Istiqlal Medal, First Order.

The list included a group of retired and serving officials, officers and academics from several units, departments and institutions, including citizens whose service started in the 1940s.

The King and Her Majesty Queen Rania greeted guests at the ceremony, which was attended by members of the Royal family, senior officials, political party leaders, unionists, youth leaders and Muslim and Christian religious leaders.

Jordanian poet Haidar Mahmoud, a former minister of culture, recited a poem especially composed for the occasion.

Later Thursday, the King and Queen attended a dinner banquet held by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Royal family members, senior parliamentarians, former premiers and senior officials attended the banquet.

Also on Thursday, the Royal Court announced that the King had presented each member of uniformed and civil service personnel, including pensioners, with a JD60 bonus to be added to their June salaries.

The Jordan Times