AMMAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Three major hotels in the Jordanian capital of Amman were hit by explosions Wednesday night, killing at least 18 people and wounding over 100 others, police said.  

    Shortly after two blasts rattled the Grand Hyatt and the nearby Radisson SAS hotels in downtown area within minutes at about 8:50p.m.(1850 GMT), a third hotel Days Inn in the capital was also struck by a blast, police said.

    "We're evacuating people from the hotel. Some are dead and there are many wounded," a police official said at Grand Hyatt,where the stone entrance was completely shattered.

    The second blast hit a wedding hall at the nearby Radisson SAShotel, causing casualties.

    The three hotels, all in a commercial area in downtown Amman,are frequented by foreign tourists, police said, warning that casualties are expected to rise.  Enditem

Suicide bombers involved in hotels attack: police

    AMMAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Three suicide bombers that hit three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman Wednesday night could be involved in chain blasts, the Jordanian News Agency Petra reported.

    A police spokesman was quoted as saying that suicide bombers were possibly involved in the chain blasts which have killed at least 18 people and wounded over 100 others.

    The attacks bore the trademarks of the al-Qaida terror network,which has waged similar attack against high-profile targets in the past, police said, adding investigation is underway.

    The three explosions rocked the three five-star hotels of GrandHyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn in the commercial Jebel Amman district within minutes at 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT).

    The hotels are frequented by foreign tourists and diplomats,police said, warning a possible higher casualties. Enditem

Death toll rises to 23 in Amman hotel blasts: sources

    AMMAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Death toll rose to at least 23 in the blasts that rocked three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman Wednesday night, hospital and security sources said. Enditem