Police officer killed during clashes in southern Jordan city – police

AMMAN, Dec 16 (Reuters) – A senior Jordanian police officer was killed on Thursday in clashes with demonstrators within the southern metropolis of Maan throughout protests over excessive gas costs that unfold to a number of cities throughout the dominion, police mentioned.

In a press release, 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 gas hikes and cuts to subsidies.

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.

Youths had clashed with police in a number of impoverished neighbourhoods of the town and within the closely populated industrial metropolis of Zarqa, north east of the capital Amman, witnesses mentioned.

Anti-riot police fired tear fuel within the Jabal al Abyad neighbourhood of the 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 neighbourhood of the capital, the place police chased demonstrators who have been chanting anti-government slogans.

Youths burned tyres on a fundamental freeway between the capital and the Lifeless Sea, disrupting visitors, witnesses mentioned.

The U.S. embassy issued a safety alert saying U.S. authorities personnel had been restricted from each private and official journey to southern Jordan.

Tensions have been mounting in Maan and several other cities in southern Jordan after days of sporadic strikes by lorry drivers in protest at excessive gas costs.

The federal government has promised to look into the strikers’ calls for however has mentioned it already has paid over 500 million dinars ($700 million) to cap gas worth hikes this 12 months.

Retailers in Maan and several other different Jordanian provincial cities shut on Wednesday in solidarity with calls for the federal government scale back diesel costs which truck drivers blame for mounting losses.

Some activist strikers have threatened to stage road protests in provincial cities on Friday.

Anger with the authorities over worsening dwelling requirements, corruption and excessive gas costs has up to now triggered civil unrest in Jordan.

Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi
Modifying by Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast.

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