Abdullah ... We will pull them from their holes and bring them to justice.
AMMAN (AP):
HUNDREDS OF angry Jordanians rallied yesterday outside one of three United States-based hotels attacked by suicide bombers, shouting, "Burn in hell, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi!" after the terrorist's group claimed responsibility for the blasts that killed at least 56 people, including an American.
In an Internet statement, al-Qaida in Iraq linked the blasts at the Grand Hyatt, the Radisson SAS and the Days Inn hotels to the war in Iraq and called Amman the "backyard garden" for United States operations.
Jordan's King Abdullah pledged yesterday that the Arab nation would hunt the bombers down.
"We will pursue those criminals and those who are behind them, and we will reach them wherever they are," the monarch said in a televised address. "We will pull them from their holes and bring them to justice."
SECURITY LOCKDOWN
Police continued a broad security lockdown after Jordan's deadliest ever terror attacks and authorities sent DNA samples for testing to identify the attackers. Land borders were reopened after being closed for nearly 12 hours.
Police drew a link to Iraq, saying the suicide bomber who detonated explosives concealed under his Western-style suit inside the Hyatt hotel spoke with an Iraqi accent, according to a senior Jordanian security official.
The Hyatt bomber, who appeared middle-age, was 'looking around' the lobby and questioned by hotel guards before blowing himself up, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorised to speak to the media.
A U.S. Embassy official said at least one American was among the fatalities, while at least two Americans were wounded.
The U.S. has offered Jordan assistance to track down the bombers, but Deputy Prime Minister, Marwan Muasher, said Amman did not need American help to find the culprits.
"We do not feel the need to ask the help of foreign sides to take part in the investigation as the Jordanian authorities are capable of carrying them out," Muasher told a news conference.
In the attacks, the suicide bombers detonated explosives at the three hotels just before 9:00 p.m. One explosion occurred inside a hall where 300 guests were celebrating a wedding.
The Amman protest was organised by Jordan's 14 professional and trade unions - made up of both hard-line Islamic groups and leftist political organisations - traditionally a vocal critic of King Abdullah II's moderate and pro-Western policies.
