King Hussein of Jordan is clinging to life in an isolation ward in the United States after a final attempt to treat his cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In a markedly downbeat official report issued in the Jordanian capital, the ailing king's doctors said the next two weeks would be critical.
Mr Marwin Muashar, the kingdom's ambassador to the US, said: "He's going to go through a difficult period for the next two weeks. He will be under close monitoring in case of complications either from the bone marrow or the chemotherapy. Every day that passes is a plus for him."
King Hussein suffered what was described as a relapse within days of returning to Jordan two weeks ago, following six months of treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma at the Mayo Clinic.
After he unexpectedly switched the succession from his brother, Prince Hassan, to his eldest son, Prince Abdullah, he was rushed back to the US for more treatment.
New details emerged yesterday about the dismissal of Prince Hassan. The Jordanian newspaper, Al Majd, said Prince Hassan drew a gun when he visited his brother to learn his fate, and told the king to shoot him if he did not believe in his loyalty.
The paper said the extraordinary incident took place at the Gate of Peace palace before the king issued a six-page letter strongly criticising the then Crown Prince for destabilising Jordan.
The newspaper said: "Prince Hassan took a gun from his hip and put it on the table in front of the king and called on him to shoot him if he doubted his loyalty.
"The king replied with the mercy for which he is known, saying that the prince would remain trusted and loved in spite of any mistakes he may have made. Prince Hassan denied he was planning to take decisions into his own hands, specifically in connection with the armed forces."
Al Majd claimed that when Prince Hassan left the meeting he was convinced he would remain as successor and that Prince Abdullah would only be appointed head of the kingdom's land forces.
But 72 hours later King Hussein removed his brother after 33 years as Crown Prince and placed Prince Abdullah next in line to the Hashemite throne.
The newspaper said the king was enraged by his brother's behaviour during his treatment at the clinic.
He had confided in Prince Hassan that the fourth bout of chemotherapy was going to be difficult, but asked him to keep it to himself while "taking necessary precautions" to prepare for the king's death.
Instead, the king learned that Prince Hassan was trying to change the army leadership, ensuring its loyalty to him, saying that his brother was unlikely to recover.
Doctors say that if the latest bone-marrow transplant fails, nothing can save the king. There is said to be a 15 per cent chance of recovery.
Doctors used bone-marrow cells taken last year from King Hussein's sister, Basma, and brother, Mohammed. In a December transplant, doctors used the king's own tissue.
Israeli children have sent 1,000 origami birds to the king.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, will visit Jordan on Sunday to congratulate the king's son on his appointment as Crown Prince.