AMMAN, Jordan -- King Hussein of Jordan told his brother that he was removing him as heir to the throne Friday, apparently to retain the crown for the king's sons, sources said.
Hussein, 63, told the 51-year-old Prince Hassan that he will appoint him as his deputy -- a new post that appears to entail limited authority, according to sources close to the king.The move comes three days after the king's return from cancer treatment in the United States. It is expected to be announced soon, the sources said.
Officials have said Hussein was cured following six rounds of chemotherapy and a marrow cell transplant for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
It was not clear, however, whether Hussein was ready to announce a new successor to the throne of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which he inherited from his father Talal in 1953 at age 17.
Hassan was named crown prince to succeed the king in 1965. At the time the king's children were still young.
King Hussein has five sons from four marriages.
Sources say the strongest candidate for crown prince is his eldest son Abdullah, provided that the future king appoint his brother Hamza as his heir.
Abdullah, who turns 37 next week, is Hussein's son from his second marriage, to Britain's Toni Gardiner, who adopted the name Mona when she converted to Islam upon her marriage to Hussein in 1960.
Abdullah, who is married and has one son, is an army major general and in charge of a special force that oversees the security of the royal dynasty. He attended military schools in England and the United States.
Hamza, who will turn 19 in March, is Hussein's son from his fourth marriage, to American-born Queen Noor, the former Elizabeth Halaby.