Diplomats confirm crisis between Cairo and Amman

Egypt's price-inflation for natural gas has caused a serious crisis in Jordan Cairo - Akram Ali Egyptian diplomatic sources revealed that Egypt's price-inflation for natural gas has caused a serious crisis with Jordan. The sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arabstoday that the crisis between Cairo and Amman escalated after demonstrations erupted in Jordon in protest against rising electricity and gas prices. The diplomatic sources disclosed that the Egyptian embassy in Amman received complaints from dozens of Egyptians living there about maltreatment from the Jordanian government and the constant threat of deportation. The sources did not confirm if the crisis was handled, just that communications between the two parties is ongoing. Khaled Al-Azhari, the Egyptian Minister of Immigration, said today that "the crisis surrounding Egyptians working in Jordan has been dealt with following communications between by President Morsi and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday." The estimated number of Egyptians working in Jordan is half a million, of whom only 176 thousand work legally. Azhari said in a statement issued Wednesday that "all Egyptian citizens detained for deportation were released and handed back their passports.” “A political crisis between Cairo and Amman occurred after the January 25 revolution and the ascension of the Muslim Brotherhood to power,” explained Ahmed Abed Rabbo, a political science professor at Cairo University. Rabbo added: "some politicians in Jordon believe that the Muslim brotherhood is willing to help their equivalents in Jordon copy the Egyptian uprising and topple King Abdullah II."