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Jordanian civilians and policemen helps an injured man in front of the Grand Hyatt hotel hotel in Amman after three explosions rocked three hotels in Jordan's capital late Wednesday, Nov. 9. (AP photo)

    AMMAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll has climbed to at least 53 in a series of blasts that rocked three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman Wednesday night, Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Moasher said.

    More than 120 others were wounded in the blasts that struck the Grand Hyatt, the Radisson SAS and the Days Inn hotels in downtown Amman, Moasher said on state television.

    "The attacks were carried out either by individuals wearing explosives on their belts or in one instance by a car that attempted to cross through the security barrier," said Moasher.

    He said most of the victims in the blasts were Jordanians.

    The Chinese embassy here said two Chinese nationals were killed and two others wounded, one seriously, in the blasts. They are members of a Chinese delegation visiting the Jordanian capital.

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¡¤3 Chinese killed in triple Jordanian blasts

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¡¤President Hu offers condolences over Jordan blasts

    Jordanian King Abdullah II, who is visiting Kazakhstan, condemned the bombing attacks as criminal acts, the Jordanian TV reported.

    These terrorist attacks would not sway Amman playing a role in combating terror, said the king in a statement, vowing to take those responsible for the attack to justice, as Jordan would "remain a safe country."

Jordanian men stand over the body of a victim following an explosion at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Amman. (Reuters)

    Police said the biggest explosion happened in the Radisson SAS hotel where a wedding party was going on.

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

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¡¤Jordan's king condemns Amman blasts as criminal acts

¡¤US condemns blasts in Amman as "heinous act"

¡¤Jordan's king to visit Ramallah next Monday: sources

¡¤Annan condemns terrorist bombings in Jordan

¡¤World's major terror attacks after Sept. 11, 2001

    Visiting the blasts-hit Grand Hyatt hotel, Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran ordered schools and government offices closed on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, police have cordoned around hotels, embassies in the downtown area.

    Shortly after the blasts, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, announced to cancel a planned visit to Jordan on Thursday.

    The targeted hotels, owned by American interests, are frequented by foreign tourists and diplomats, police said, warning higher casualties. Enditem

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