King Abdullah at a ceremony held by the Greater Amman Municipality and attended by 3,000 Jordanians on Labor Day (Petra News Agency)

Amman - Mohammed Kheir Al-Rawashdeh

Jordanian King Abdullah II sent on Thursday a letter to the new director of the General Intelligence Department (GID), Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, revealing shortcomings and violations committed by security officials working in the apparatus.

This is the first time King Abdullah addresses a public letter, published by the Petra news agency, to expose shortcomings in the performance of the security apparatus.

A day earlier, a Royal Decree was issued appointing Husni as GID director to replace Maj. Gen. Adnan Jundi, who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

In an unprecedented criticism to the department, the Jordanian King wrote in his letter: “The GID’s career has been a bright and honorable one, but like any other public institution, it was not void of some transgressions by a small minority that placed its own interests above those of the country, which called for immediate rectification.”

He said this minority that displays individual and exploitative behavior has forgotten that power and office come with responsibility and accountability, noting that the actions of those few must not lead us to misjudge our institutions or doubt their credibility.

The King also noted that Husni should lead the security agency through "an intricate phase" for the region, that poses unprecedented challenges and in which the Kingdom is faced with unstable regional circumstances and a tense global climate.

Observers said it is now clear that the King decided to restructure certain institutions in Jordan.