Death toll has climbed to at least 57 in a series of blasts that rocked three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman Wednesday night, Deputy Prime Marwan Moasher said.  

 

At least 57 people were killed and over 300 others wounded in the blasts that struck the Grand Hyatt, the Radisson SAS and the Days Inn hotels in downtown Amman, Moasher said on state television.

 

According to the Xinhua News Agency quoting Chinese Embassy in Jordan, two members with a visiting Chinese military delegation were killed and two were injured, one seriously.

 

"The attacks were carried out either by individuals wearing explosives on their belts or in one instance by a car that attempted to cross through the security barrier," said Moasher.  

 

He said most of the victims in the blasts were Jordanians.  

 

Jordanian King Abdullah II, who is visiting Kazakhstan, condemned the bombing attacks as criminal acts, the Jordanian TV reported.

 

The attacks are criminal acts committed by a few of astray individuals, King Abdullah was quoted as saying in a statement.  

 

These terrorist attacks would not sway Amman playing a role in combating terror, said the king, vowing to take those responsible for the attack to justice, as Jordan would "remain a safe country".  

 

Police said the biggest explosion happened in the Radisson SAS hotel where a wedding parting was going on.

 

The attacks bore the trademarks of the al-Qaida terror network, which has staged similar attacks against high-profile Western targets in the past, police said, adding investigation is underway.  

 

Visiting the blasts-hit Grand Hyatt hotel, Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran ordered schools and government offices closed on Thursday.

 

Meanwhile, police have cordoned around hotels, embassies in the capital area.

 

Shortly after the blasts, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, announced to cancel a planned visit to Jordan on Thursday.

 

The targeted hotels, owned by American interests, are frequented by foreign tourists and diplomats, police said, warning higher casualties.

 

 

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2005)