(WITH HAMAS-JORDAN-REACTIONS SERIES) HAMAS POLITBURO MEMBER CONDEMNS DEPORTATION OF MOVEMENT'S LEADERS DAMASCUS, NOV 22 (KUNA) -- MEMBER OF HAMAS POLITBURO MOUSSA ABU MARZOUQ CONDEMNED JORDAN'S DEPORTATION OF FOUR HAMAS LEADERS TO QATAR, ATTRIBUTING THE EXPULSION TO WESTERN AND ISRAELI PRESSURE.
"THE MOVEMENT (OF HAMAS) DENOUNCES THIS MEASURE BY THE JORDANIAN AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSES THEIR DEPORTATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE JORDANIAN PASSPORTS," ABU MARZOUQ SAID FROM HIS EXILE IN DAMASCUS.
JORDAN DEPORTED POLITBURO CHIEF KHALED MISHAL, HAMAS SPOKESMAN IBRAHIM GHOUSHA AND POLITBURO MEMBERS SAMI KHATTAR AND ABDUL AZIZ AL-OMARI.
THE FOUR MEN LEFT TO DOHA ABOARD A QATARI PRIVATE JET.
THE JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT SAID THEIR EXPULSION CAME AFTER CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE AMIR OF QATAR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL-THANI AND KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN. (END) SHA.BS KUNA 222345 Nov 99NNNN