Assad's wife to Jordanian queen: Our situation excellent

Arabic newspaper says Jordan's Queen Rania called Asma Assad to express concern over violence in Syria. Clinton casts doubt on effectiveness of arming rebels

Roi Kais|Published: 02.28.12 , 10:42

The London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper reported Tuesday that Jordan's Queen Rania recently phoned Syrian President Bashar Assad's wife Asma to ask about the situation in the battle-torn country. Assad's wife responded: "Our situation is excellent and we have no concerns, thanks to allah."

A Jordanian source added that Asma then told Rania: "But we have heard worrying reports from your country and wish to make sure you are doing ok."

According to the Arabic newspaper, Prince El-Hassan bin Talal, the uncle of King Abdallah II of Jordan, told Jordanian television that the king called Assad a number of times and encouraged him to introduce reforms in his country.

שומרות על קשר. ראניה ואסמה (צילום: AFP, EPA)

Asma Assad (L) and Jordan's Queen Rania (Photos: EPA, AFP)

Shortly after the uprising in Syria broke out, King Abdullah sent his royal court chief - Khaled Karaki - to Damascus to try and persuade Assad to implement reforms. Sources close to the Jordanian regime said Assad has refused to take calls from Jordanian officials.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the Syrian regime's massacre of its own people and at the same time cast doubt on the effectiveness of arming the rebels.

Clinton noted that among the supporters of the Syrian uprising are al-Qaeda and Hamas, two of the most notorious terrorist organizations in the Middle East.

Syrian activists said that another 135 people were killed there Monday, many of them while fleeing the besieged city of Homs.

Clinton said the US is "deeply distressed" about the civilian casualties but raised serious concerns about calls to arm the Syrian opposition.

"What are we going to arm them with and against what? We're not going to bring tanks over the borders of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan," Clinton said.

"We know al Qaeda (leader Ayman al-) Zawahiri is supporting the opposition in Syria. Are we supporting al Qaeda in Syria? Hamas is now supporting the opposition. Are we supporting Hamas in Syria?" she said. "If you're a military planner or if you're a secretary of state and you're trying to figure out do you have the elements of an opposition that is actually viable, that we don't see. We see immense human suffering that is heartbreaking."