21 January 2004	Wednesday	28 Ziqa'ad 1424

AMMAN, Jan 20: Jordan's state prosecutor Mahmud Obeidat on Tuesday called for the death penalty for 11 people on trial over the murder of a US diplomat in 2002.

"The crimes carried out by the accused were aimed at undermining Jordan's security and stability, and they are among the ugliest and most dangerous of crimes," Mr Obeidat told the state security court.

"They have killed the American diplomat in the name of Islam, but Islam has nothing to do with them and their ugly crimes. Such people harm the reputation of Islam and Muslims," he said, according to a copy of his closing statement.

Mr Obeidat urged the court to issue death sentence against the defendants for "plotting to carry out terrorist activities leading to the death of an individual" as well as illegal possession of weapons.

The court will meet again on Feb 15 to hear the defence lawyer's closing statement. Laurence Foley, 62, a US Agency for International Development (USAID) official, was shot eight times outside his Amman home on Oct 28, 2002, as he was climbing into his car to go to work. - AFP