Jordanian FM meets with ex-Syrian PM who defected

Closed-door meeting reportedly focuses on ‘developments in Syrian arena,’ reflecting Amman’s growing support for opposition forces

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s state news agency says the country’s foreign minister has held talks with Syria’s ex-Prime Minister Riad Hijab in the first high-profile meeting since the Syrian defected to the kingdom in August.

The Petra news agency says Nasser Judeh’s closed-door meeting with Hijab Saturday focused on “developments in the Syrian arena.” It did not elaborate and officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

After initially seeming reluctant to anger its more powerful northern neighbor, Jordan recently has shown signs of leaning towards the Syria opposition trying to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad.

For months, Jordan has been secretly receiving waves of Syrian security officials. But last week, it announced publicly that it is hosting 2,054 officials, some of them high-ranking.

It is also home to more than 200,000 Syrian refugees.