Jordan Charges 8 With Plotting Attack on Israelis

AMMAN - Jordanian authorities have charged eight men with plotting to attack Israeli and U.S. tourists in Jordan, and with planning to launch military operations in Israel from Jordanian soil in 2004 and 2005, legal sources said yesterday.

Seven defendants have been arrested while an eighth suspect, residing in Syria, will be tried in absentia, sources said.

The men were charged with "plotting illegal acts that could draw hostile actions from a foreign country and putting Jordan's international ties at risk".

According to the charges, the defendants had embraced Takfir thought or labeling people apostates for renouncing their beliefs, and in November 2004 talked of the need to "kill foreign tourists visiting the kingdom".