AFP chairman denounces attack on Amman bureau in letter to Prime Minister

AFP Chairman Emmanuel Hoog wrote to Jordan's Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit on Thursday to denounce an attack on the agency's Amman office and the fierce criticism by the authorities of bureau chief Randa Habib and her staff. The attack on the bureau on Wednesday came a day after a demonstration outside the building to protest the publication of a report of an attack on a convoy carrying King Abdallah II, which was denied by the authorities.

In his letter, Hoog protested against the accusations of "subversive intrigues" which have been levelled at AFP "on the grounds that it reported, as its duty to inform obliges it to do, events that were considered negative for the image of the country and its leaders." He also addressed the "verbal threats" made to Habib.

"Such behaviour is totally incomprehensible in a country that claims to follow the rule of law. These acts of physical and verbal violence have a serious impact on the work of journalists and therefore impact on the freedom of expression and information," added Hoog, the agency's chairman and chief executive officer. "We take note of the moves that you have ordered to protect our staff and the premises as well as your condemnation of the attack. I now expect these measures to be implemented immediately and in a concrete fashion."

Hoog also reiterated his "full support" to all of AFP's editorial teams in "fulfilling their mission".