In this file photo dated June 20, 2006, Jordanian Bassem Awadallah, then vice-president of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), speaks to media a day before the opening of the two-day Second Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates in the ancient city of Petra, about 80 kilometers south of the Dead Sea. (JOSEPH BARRAK / AFP)

AMMAN - Jordan's State Security Court on Sunday charged Bassem Awadallah, former finance minister and royal court chief, and royal family member Sharif Hassan Ben Zeid with inciting sedition and opposition against the country's regime.

The court indicated that they were also charged with taking some actions to harm the safety and security of Jordan and destabilize the country, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

It said that Sharif Hassan Ben Zeid was also charged with possession of narcotics.

The trial of the two is expected to start next week.

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In early April, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Prince Hamza, Awadallah, and Zeid had contacts with external powers to take some actions against the country.