The prominent Jordanian tribe of al Qaeda’s frontman in Iraq has published a declaration disowning him.
The Khalayhleh-Bani Hassan tribe took out front-page adverts in Jordanian newspapers, disavowing Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
“We absolutely denounce all terrorist acts adopted by Ahmad Fadel Nazzal al Khalayleh, alias Abu Musab al Zarqawi, and affirm that we, the sons of the Khalayleh tribe, repudiate him.”
The statement was directed at Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
It said: “We announce, and all the people are our witnesses, that we – the sons of the al Khalayleh tribe – are innocent of him and all that emanates from him, whether action, assertion or decision.
“Those who dare to carry out such actions in our proud kingdom are not Jordanians and have no link whatsoever to Jordan, didn’t drink its water and didn’t enjoy its protection, because a Jordanian doesn’t stab himself with his own spear and we sever links with him until doomsday.”
It came just days after al Zarqawi defended the November 9 bombings on Amman hotels that killed 59 people, mostly Jordanians.
In his statement at the time, the terror leader also warned of more attacks.
Around 60 people signed the newspaper statement.
They included al Zarqawi’s brother Sayel Fadel Nazzal al Khalayleh and MP Mussa al Khalayleh, a deputy from al Zarqawi’s hometown Zarqa east of Amman.