Syria rejects Hamas plot confessions in Jordan

KUWAIT (Reuters) – Syria on Friday rejected televised
confessions by two Hamas activists arrested in Jordan who said
they had received military training in Syria.

“I completely deny the authenticity of this,” Syrian
Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem told a news conference in
Kuwait when asked about the militants’ confessions aired on
Jordanian state television on Thursday.

“We care for Jordan and ties are constructive between Syria
and Jordan,” Mualem added.

The exiled leadership of Hamas is based in Syria. Jordan
said on Wednesday it had arrested 20 Hamas activists last month
who were part of a plot to stage attacks in the kingdom.

On Thursday, two of the suspects said on Jordanian
television they were recruited by operatives from the
Palestinian militant group’s Damascus-based leadership.

The television showed rocket launchers that it said were
part of an uncovered Hamas arms caches.

There was no way to verify the authenticity of the
confessions. Independent lawyers and rights groups say many
confessions by political detainees are extracted under duress.

Hamas has repeatedly denied accusations that its members
are involved in arms smuggling to Jordan from Syria and refuses
to join a committee set up by Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas to investigate the case with Jordanian officials.