more Mid-East instability due to bush's war

Jordan complains of Iraqi refugees

AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan pleaded for international help Thursday to deal with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have fled here to avoid the violence at home, saying they cost the kingdom $1 billion a year in basic services.

The influx of 750,000 Iraqi refugees into Jordan has strained infrastructure and brought the threat of violence to the country, Jordanian Interior Ministry Secretary-General Mukheimar Abu-Jamous said on the opening day of a conference on the issue.

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