At a news conference on Sunday, Jordan's information minister said the country had foiled a major plot by an al Qaeda-linked cell to bomb shopping centres and assassinate Western diplomats.<br/> <br />Security forces arrested 11 Jordanian nationals in connection with the plot, which they apparently planned to carry out in Amman using arms and explosives smuggled from Syria.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) INFORMATION MINISTER, SAMEEH MAAITAH, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The weapons used include explosives, mortars, there were rifles. We have distributed a news item containing details of the foiled plan, including target locations."<br/> <br />If successful, the plot could have caused thousands of deaths, according to authorities, who added that the plot had been active since June.<br/> <br />Jordan is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East and is a peace partner of Israel.<br/> <br />The Arab kingdom has often been targeted by al Qaeda and other Islamist militant groups.
