Abdullah gives his first formal interview RELATED VIDEO Christiane Amanpour interviews King Abdullah of Jordan - part 1 Windows Media 28K 80K Part 2 Windows Media 28K 80K Part 3 Windows Media 28K 80K Edited version Windows Media 28K 80K

May 3, 1999
Web posted at: 7:12 p.m. EDT (2312 GMT)

AMMAN, Jordan (CNN) -- After spending half a century on the throne, King Hussein of Jordan unexpectedly named his son Abdullah as the royal heir shortly before his death in February.

Nearly three months later, the new monarch gives his first official interview since, as he puts it, he's gone from being a father of two to the patriarch of 4 million.

In an exclusive with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, King Abdullah discusses the palace intrigue that led to his ascension, the future of the Middle East, and the reverence which he and his nation share for his late father.