His Majesty king Abdullah II received on Thursday president of the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun newspaper Akira Saito who offered to His Majesty condolences over the death of Staff Sergeant Ali Aqil Sarhan.

Sarhan was killed when a metal object that a Japanese journalist brought from Iraq as a souvenir, exploded at the Queen Ali International Airport.

His Majesty said, during the meeting which was attended by Minister of Royal Court Chief Faisal Al Fayez and the Japanese ambassador in Amman, that what had happened was accidental, noting that the martyr's family is from a Jordanian tribe which is well known for its generosity and tolerance.

King Abdullah affirmed that the martyr's keenness and vigilance prevented a catastrophe that could have happened if the metal object was not discovered.

His Majesty praised the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between the Jordanian and Japanese peoples, voicing his keenness to further enhance them.

President of the Japanese newspaper for his part expressed, in his name and on behalf of the newspaper's staff, his deep sorrow and apology for the incident in which three others persons were also injured.

Saito also conveyed his apology for the family of the martyr and the Jordanian people.