Jordan has confirmed that it will arrest the political leaders of the militant Palestinian organisation, Hammas, if they try to re-enter the country.

The Jordanian Prime Minister, Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh, said warrants had been signed for the arrest of the senior Hammas representative in Amman, Khaled Meshaal, and two of his associates. Mr Rawabdeh said they would be put on trial if they returned from a visit to Iran. Two weeks ago, Jordanian security forces arrested a number of people during raids on Hammas premises, which were closed down.

The Israeli security forces tried to kill Mr Meshaal in Amman two years ago.

The attempt caused political tension between Jordan and Israel.