[ad_1]
AMMAN: One senior police officer was killed on Thursday in clashes with demonstrators within the southern Jordanian metropolis of Maan throughout protests over excessive gasoline costs that unfold to a number of cities throughout the dominion, police and witnesses mentioned.
In an announcement, police mentioned the officer was shot within the head whereas coping with “rioting” by a bunch of outlaws within the impoverished metropolis that has up to now seen bouts of civil unrest over gasoline hikes and cuts to subsidies.
“We’ll strike with an iron fist anybody who tries to assault lives and property,” the police assertion added.
A police supply had earlier mentioned the officer was shot by unknown assailants throughout clashes within the Husseiniya space of Maan. 4 different policemen have been injured, the supply mentioned.
Witnesses mentioned a protracted convoy of armored autos was seen getting into Maan as reinforcements have been despatched to the neighborhood the place the police officer was killed.
Youths had clashed with police in a number of impoverished neighborhoods of town and within the closely populated industrial metropolis of Zarqa, north east of the capital Amman, witnesses mentioned.
Anti-riot police fired tear gasoline within the Jabal al Abyad neighborhood of town of Zarqa to interrupt up protests that broke out in Jordan’s second most populous metropolis.
Witnesses mentioned dozens of youths additionally staged a protest within the Tafiyla neighborhood of the capital, the place police chased demonstrators who have been chanting anti-government slogans.
Youths burned tires on a essential freeway between the capital and the Useless Sea, disrupting visitors, witnesses mentioned.
Within the north of the nation close to the border with Syria, youths clashed with police in a number of neighborhoods in Irbid, the nation’s third-largest metropolis by inhabitants.
Sporadic skirmishes unfold to different smaller cities within the neighborhood the place police used tear gasoline to disperse stone throwing youths.
The US embassy issued a safety alert saying US authorities personnel had been restricted from each private and official journey to southern Jordan.
Tensions have been mounting in Maan and a number of other cities in southern Jordan after days of sporadic strikes by lorry drivers protesting excessive gasoline costs.
The federal government has promised to look into the strikers’ calls for however has mentioned it already has paid over $700 million (500 million dinars ) to cap gasoline worth hikes this yr.
Nevertheless, officers say they can not spend extra to subsidise costs due to limits in place underneath an Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF)-backed structural financial reform program.
Retailers in Maan and a number of other different Jordanian provincial cities shut on Wednesday in solidarity with calls for the federal government cut back diesel costs, which truck drivers blame for mounting losses.
Some activist strikers have threatened to stage avenue protests in provincial cities on Friday. Police tightened safety close to the seat of presidency in central Amman, the place protesters historically collect.
[ad_2]
Source link
