Roadside blasts target Israeli diplomats

Naour: A roadside bomb exploded on Thursday near a convoy of Israeli diplomats travelling through Jordan on their way home for the weekend, but no one was hurt, officials in both countries said.

Ambassador Daniel Nevo was not in the convoy, Israeli officials in occupied Jerusalem said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

It was the first time a roadside bomb has been used in an attack in Jordan. The attack also exposed a security breach for Israeli diplomats, who are usually escorted by security personnel from both countries and use different routes and departure times during their occasional travels in Jordan.

The blast ripped through the right side of a road cutting through hilly villages on the western outskirts of Amman. It left a large hole about a metre deep and damaged a highway guardrail.

Jordanian forensic officers were inspecting the site of the attack, a security official said. The area is halfway from the King Hussain-Allenby Bridge at the border.

The US Embassy in Amman issued a statement recommending US citizens avoid the Dead Sea Highway from Amman to the Dead Sea until further notice.

Police were trying to determine the size and complexity of the bomb, which appears to have exploded remotely, the official said, insisting on anonymity because he is not allowed to release details during early stages of investigation.

Israeli media reported one or two roadside bombs exploded as the Israeli convoy passed, but the timing of the remote-controlled detonation was off and the vehicles not seriously damaged. The convoy later crossed the bridge to Israel, Israel TV said. The section of road, which is less monitored than the area closer to the bridge, is used by tourists and other travellers visiting the Dead Sea.

After the blast, the convoy entered a small Jordanian army post as soldiers searched the area, Israel's Channel 2 TV said.

Jordanian police sealed off the main road leading to the area. Information Minister Nabeel Sharif said in a brief statement an "explosive device went off on the side of the road leading to the Jordan Valley" as "some civilian vehicles were passing by, including two Israeli diplomatic cars."

He said there were no injuries, and authorities have launched an investigation.

Two Jordanian security officials said the attackers may have thought the Israeli ambassador to Jordan was in the convoy.

In Amman, Israeli Embassy spokeswoman Merav Horsandi confirmed there was a blast next to a convoy carrying embassy employees. In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli officials said four passengers and two security guards were in the convoy and they were heading to Israel for the weekend.