Prince Zeid bin Shaker, a confidant of the late King Hussein died on Friday. He was 67.
Bin Shaker died of a heart attack, the Royal Palace said in a statement. Prince Zeid will be laid to rest at the Royal graveyard on Saturday after noon prayer.
Bin Shaker, whose military prowess and loyalty to the monarchy was rewarded when he was bestowed the title of prince, implemented political reforms king Hussein introduced in 1989 following violent riots fueled by price hikes that widened into calls for public freedoms.
After serving in the army for 35 years, bin Shaker became prime minister in 1989. He held the first general elections after.
According to AP, he revived a multiparty system banned since 1956 and initiated steps toward abolishing martial law, which had been enforced since the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948.
The moves earned him his countrymen's respect, allowing him to form two other Cabinets in the 1990s, including the 1991 Gulf War. Known for his courage during his army career, bin Shaker commanded a Jordanian armored brigade in the 1967 Middle East War that tried to prevent an Israeli advancement into the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
In 1968, he fought in the Battle of Karameh when Jordan forced out Israeli troops advancing into Jordan to fight Palestinian guerrillas engaged in cross-border attacks against Israel.
Months after his last prime ministerial duty in 1996, bin Shaker was made an emir, or prince — a move aimed at sending him into retirement as royal title holders are banned from acquiring public posts.
Bin Shaker was king Hussein's Amman high school classmate. Both studied at Britain's Sandhurst Military Academy.
Family relations date back to 1916 when bin Shaker's father — Shaker bin Zeid — fought in the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman rule. The revolt was led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali, the great grandfather of King Hussein.
Bin Shaker is survived by his wife Nawzat, daughter Nisreen and son Shaker.
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
