Jordanian official media reported today that the Jordanian Military Court will begin next week the trial of the former royal court chief and a member of the royal family, on charges of inciting opposition to the regime, quoting Reuters news agency.

The prosecution referred to the court a case last week, in the name of Awadallah, a former royal court chief and finance minister who played a major role in a campaign to liberalize the economy, and Sharif Hassan Zaid, a relative of the king.

The two were arrested in early April when former Crown Prince Hamzah was placed under house arrest over allegations that he communicated with foreign parties about a plot to destabilize Jordan, a close US ally in the Middle East.