AMMAN, July 3: Jordan is insisting that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s eldest daughter remain under its protection, despite calls from the US-backed authorities in Baghdad for her extradition. Jordanian Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit stressed that no formal extradition request had yet been received from Iraq following national security adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubaie’s identification on Sunday of Raghdad Saddam Hussein as his country’s 16th most wanted fugitive.

Mr Bakhit said the ousted Iraqi president’s daughter had complied with the conditions of her asylum in Jordan and remained under the protection of the reigning Hashemite royal family of King Abdullah.

“She is the guest of the Hashemite royal family and under its protection as a seeker of asylum” in accordance with Arab tradition, he said.

Raghad had heeded demands that she refrain from ‘any political or media activities’, the premier added, contradicting accusations by Mr Rubaie that she was a ‘significant financial supporter of insurgents in Iraq’.

“These people are responsible for most of the bombings and indiscriminate killings aimed at hurting the Iraqi people and starting a sectarian war between Sunnis and Shias,” the Iraqi official had said in Baghdad as he presented a new 41-strong ‘wanted’ list.—AFP