VOA常速英语:约旦王室开启宫斗

This is VOA news. Via remote, I'm Marissa Melton. Jordan's foreign minister says authorities have foiled an alleged plot by the former crown prince to undermine the government. Ayman Safadi told reporters that Prince Hamza, the younger half-brother of King Abdullah II, had coordinated with foreign parties over a plot to destabilize the country. Safadi, who also holds the title of the deputy prime minister, did not say who the foreign parties are. Division in the ruling royal family came to light late Saturday when Hamza announced he could not leave his home. State media reported that senior officials had been detained in a security probe. Hamza sent a video recording to the BBC saying he was being silenced. He said the country had become "stymied in corruption, nepotism and misrule." Jordan's military accused Hamza of targeting the country's "stability and security." The United States and the Gulf states including Saudi Arabia expressed strong support for King Abdullah. Ned Price, the U.S. State Department spokesman, wrote on Twitter that "Abdullah is a key partner of the United States," and said he has Washington's "full support."

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov may have difficulty holding on to power after a surge of votes in an election Sunday for anti-establishment and anti-corruption parties that want him out. Exit polls in the Bulgarian election forecast Prime Minister Borissov's center-right political party to remain the largest party in parliament, but it is only expected to win around 25 percent of the seats. Behind it, the opposition Socialists and a new anti-establishment party vied with each other for second place, and two protest parties who want Borissov out are also forecast to enter the parliament. Borissov's party has few natural coalition partners, so talks, or even another election, cannot be ruled out. VOA news.