Neither Mikdad nor Naser acknowledged the statement of former Prime Minister Riad Hijab, who, after he defected last week, told a press conference in Amman on Tuesday that President Bashar al-Assad controls about 30 percent of Syria. Instead, Naser called for increased efforts to improve services and infrastructure for tourists.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that clashes took place in the upscale Mezze district near the office of the prime minister between the Syrian army and the Free Syrian Army.
"Threats" to women's achievements
In Tunisia, an estimated six thousand women demonstrated in Tunis and the country's second-largest city, Sfax, to denounce what they called "threats" by the ruling Islamist Nadha Party to women's achievements in the country.
Demonstrators chanted slogans against the ruling party and demanded a constitutional provision stipulating equality for both sexes. They accused the Islamist party of seeking to pass an amendment stating that a woman is "a complement to the man" and not an equal.
The Islamist party was voted into office in October 2011.
Seven food establishments ordered closed
Jordanian officials are continuing a campaign of Ramadan health inspections of restaurants around the capital, with seven food establishments ordered closed and 22 offenders ordered to attend court to face charges.
Nearly 60 inspections have taken place, with local news site Khaberni.com reporting that a major mall in Amman has been sealed closed with wax to prevent spoiled meat from entering the building.
Jordan's Food and Drug Administration is cracking down ahead of the Eid celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan.
"The measures are more intensive during the Eid with teams of inspectors working around the clock," said Minister of Health Abdul Latif Wreikat.
One of the restaurants closed is one of Amman's most popular. Cafeteria Reem, a shwarma joint popular with both Jordanians and foreigners is known for having a line of customers outside the stand at all hours.
