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Jordan King Congratulates Mursi on Egypt 'Trust'

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday congratulated Mohammed Mursi "for winning the people's trust" following his victory in Egypt's presidential election, a palace statement said.

"We congratulate you for winning the people's trust. We wish Egypt all progress and prosperity," the king told Mursi, saying Amman is "keen to enhance relations" with Cairo.

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France Calls on Syrian Army to Desert after Pilot Defection

The French Foreign Ministry called Friday for the Syrian military to desert en masse the day after a Syrian air force colonel defected after landing his MiG fighter in Jordan.

"Yesterday's defection leads us to call on members of the Syrian army and security forces to continue these defections, these desertions and no longer to obey the Damascus regime's criminal orders," ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told journalists.

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Jordan Grants Asylum to Defecting Syrian Pilot

Jordan granted political asylum to a Syrian pilot on Thursday hours after he landed his jet at a military air base in the kingdom, in the first such air force defection in the 15-month revolt.

"The council of ministers has decided to grant the pilot, Colonel Hassan Merei al-Hamade, political asylum, on his request," Information Minister Samih Maaytah told Agence France Presse.

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Jordan King Calls for Preventing 'Civil War' in Syria

King Abdullah II of Jordan, whose country borders Syria and hosts a large number of refugees, expressed concern Wednesday about the implications of the Syrian crisis for the region as a whole.

"The window for a solution is narrowing and all should be on the alert to prevent the crisis from sliding into a civil war," the king told pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat.

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Jordan Parliament Approves Electoral Law

Jordanian MPs on Tuesday endorsed an electoral law that scraps a contested one-person-one-vote system and increases seats for women, as the country prepares to hold polls by the end of this year.

"Under the new law, voters can cast two ballots: one for individual candidates in their governorates and one for political parties or coalitions nationwide," prominent MP Khalil Attieh told AFP.

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Syria Opposition Says Jordan Tightening Border Controls

Jordan has tightened border controls to prevent loyalists of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from infiltrating into the kingdom, an official of the opposition Syrian National Council said on Tuesday.

"Jordan used to have an open border policy with the Syrians, but now new regulations prevent some Syrians from entering the kingdom," Amman-based SNC official Nizar Heraki told Agence France Presse.

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Putin, Jordan King to Discuss Arab Uprisings June 26

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Jordan on June 26 for talks with King Abdullah II on Arab uprisings as well as regional peace efforts, the palace said on Monday.

"Putin will start a one-day visit to Jordan on June 26, during which he will discuss with the king political changes and developments in the Middle East as well as efforts to achieve peace there," the palace said, indicating that the two leaders will discuss Arab uprisings and Mideast peace efforts.

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British PM, King of Jordan Hold Syria Talks

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and King Abdullah II of Jordan held talks Saturday on ending the "appalling daily slaughter" in Syria, Cameron's Downing Street office said.

They also discussed the Middle East peace process and Britain's marathon efforts to deport radical cleric Abu Qatada back to Jordan.

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Jordan Protesters Brave Heat Wave to Demand Reform

More than 2,000 Jordanians braved blistering temperatures on Friday to demonstrate across the country against recent hikes in commodity prices, demanding sweeping political change and constitutional reform.

"Instead of raising prices, hold the corrupt accountable. Reform the constitution and let the people see the light," read one of the banners carried by around 1,000 protesters, including Islamists, leftists and youths, who marched in central Amman.

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Jordanian Teen Kills Family over 'Differences'

A 17-year-old Jordanian went on a shooting spree, killing his father, mother, two brothers and an uncle because he had "differences" with them, police said on Thursday.

"The suspect has confessed to killing five members of his family, including his father, who works as a teacher, mother, two brothers, who study at a local university and his uncle, a retired colonel," a police spokesman told Agence France Presse.

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