New recordings reveal Jordanian prince's aides seeking pledges of allegiance ahead of attempted coup

New phone recordings allegedly featuring the former Jordanian heir Prince Hamzah attempting to acquire pledges of allegiance from tribal leaders and military officers weeks before he was detained brings more questions than answers about the failed coup in Jordan last month.

Conversations caught on recordings will be used by the Jordanian government in its case against two men who are accused of acting on behalf of Hamzah in the attempted coup to oust his brother King Abdullah from the throne, The Guardian reported on Sunday.

The calls took place in March, the report said, and includes a suggestion of an "oath".

One of the calls to a tribal official heard a voice saying: "Our guy has made a decision to move, do you pledge allegiance?"

In another recording, from a secret tape placed in a meeting of tribal figures in Jordan, the men attending discussed ways to organise support for Hamzah.

In mid-March, one official said Hamzah had rammed up recruitment efforts.

"At that point Hamzah was asking for advice on how to proceed," the official said. "He was told: 'These decisions need well thought-out responses. When it’s time for the full knockout, you will know.'

"His people told those they had recruited: 'When he acts, it is to be for the jugular'."

Reports that Prince Hamzah is under house arrest have been denied by the military.

Prince Hamzah has repeatedly rejected claims of any wrongdoing and denies that he was part of a coup. He was last heard from in leaked videos in April claiming his innocence.