King and Queen Return Home

Amman
02 May 2003

Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania on Friday returned home from UK. Upon his immediate return His Majesty visited King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) where he has been reassured regarding the health of the three wounded in the blast that took place in Queen Alia airport Thursday, due to a grenade inside the luggage of a Japanese photographer.

Director of KHMC, Munaf Hijazi briefed His Majesty on the health condition of the wounded. Two of them are in good condition and will leave hospital within a couple of days, he said. The third underwent a surgical operation and he is now in a stable condition, he added.

His Majesty hailed members of Security and Protection Unit, who prevented a catastrophe had the photographer managed to board Egypt Air airoplane with the grenade, which he brought from Baghdad as a souvenir, within his luggage.

In London, His Majesty discussed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair the efforts exerted to publish the roadmap and release the peace process, in addition to the future situation in Iraq.

Prior to his departure from London, His Majesty King Abdullah II discussed with American Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld the situation in Iraq and the American role in supporting and reviving the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

His Majesty affirmed the importance of speeding up formation of a national Iraqi government representing all segments of Iraqi people and to restore security and stability to Iraq.

His Majesty stressed that the Iraqi people should assume their independent will in order to determine their future and the form of government they want.