Jordan's government accuses Prince Hamzah of plot to destabilise country

Deputy PM says authorities intercepted communications between prince and foreign parties

A senior Jordanian official has claimed authorities foiled a malicious plot" at the zero hour", as a new round of arrests reached the closest aide to Prince Hamzah, the royal alleged to have unsuccessfully conspired to oust his half-brother, King Abdullah, in a weekend coup.

The foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Ayman Safadi, said on Sunday that the country's intelligence services had intercepted a plot as it was about to be carried out. He offered scant details but said Hamzah had liaised with a foreign government to destabilise the kingdom.