Jordanian troops head to Afghanistan

AMMAN, Jordan -- Jordanian troops left Sunday for Afghanistan to set up a field hospital in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, officials said.

The undisclosed number of troops include special forces who will protect the 50-bed field hospital, which will be equipped to accommodate up to 400 patients. The military said more Jordanian forces will follow in the coming days.

The deployment also includes about 200 military doctors and medical staff, government officials said.

Jordan, which maintains good relations with the United States and a peace treaty with Israel, has backed the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

The kingdom has accused Osama bin Laden, the United States' chief suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks, of trying to destabilize Jordan as well.

Bin Laden's operatives were accused of plotting to kill Jordan's royal family as it vacationed on a yacht in the Mediterranean last summer.