World

Albright Meets Jordan Heir

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 19, 1999 / 7:52 AM EST / CBS

King Hussein, who has suffered a relapse of lymphatic cancer, might undergo a second stem-cell transplant to try to fight the disease, sources in Jordan say.

Hussein had abruptly returned to the United States on Tuesday, only days after a triumphant homecoming from six months of cancer treatment.

CBS News Correspondent Charles Wolfson reports that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, on her way from Saudi Arabia to London, stopped in Amman Thursday for a 20-minute meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah, Hussein's eldest son and the new heir to Jordan's throne.

According to senior State Department officials traveling with Albright, Abdullah is "well known in Washington" due to his role as head of the Jordanian special forces.

"Continuity is expected to be strong," according to one of the American officials.

After her meeting, Albright told reporters: "I wanted to stop here and make very clear the U.S. stands with Jordan." She also expressed her wishes for King Hussein's speedy recovery.

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., announced Wednesday that King Hussein was in "stable condition" but had suffered a relapse.

"He is receiving treatment for a relapse of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. His Majesty immediately began treatment upon arriving at Mayo clinic," said a statement issued on behalf of the king's doctors.

The sources in Jordan who said he might have a second transplant spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

Jordanians remained anxious over the king's health even as they gathered Wednesday to pay respects to their new crown prince.

Hundreds of people crowded into a hilltop palace to show support for Prince Abdullah, who Hussein this week named heir to the throne. The Royal Palace said another ceremony was scheduled Thursday because of a flood of calls from Jordanians wishing to congratulate the prince.

The United States quickly signaled its support for the king's decision to appoint the 36-year-old heir to the throne.

The well-wishers at the palace reception included the king's brother, who was removed as crown prince Tuesday. Hassan hugged and kissed Abdullah.

The heavy turnout at the palace underlined the support for Hussein's decision to remove Hassan, who lacks Hussein's charisma.

Prince Abdullah has so far tried to avoid any possible rift with his uncle. In a letter to his father, Abdullah hinted that he will maintain warm relations with Hassan.

"The Hashemites are my family and the source of my pride and I intend to keep love, mercy, selflessness ... amongst us," he said.