Increased vigilance in the capital.
Demonstrations against the economic situation in Amman, tonight (photo: screenshot, Twitter)
Clashes broke out tonight (Friday) in several cities in Jordan, including the capital, in protest over fuel prices, and a senior police officer in the southern city of Ma'an was shot dead.
Police said he was shot in the head during a "riot of outlaws" in the impoverished city, in addition to four other officers who were wounded by gunfire during the clashes.
"We will cripple with an iron fist anyone who threatens to harm human life and property," the police warned.
Following the killing of the senior officer, the police deployed increased forces in Ma'an, which had previously witnessed similar riots that broke out due to the economic crisis.
Violent clashes between young protesters and the security forces were also recorded in several locations in the capital Amman and the city of Zarqa.
Eyewitnesses said that young people burned tires on a main road between Amman and the Dead Sea, disrupting traffic.
Clashes also occurred in Irbid in the north, which is close to the Syrian border, and the police used tear gas to disperse young protesters who were throwing stones.
The violent clashes were preceded by days of tension that prevailed following strikes by truck drivers in protest of the high fuel prices, which they claim are hurting their incomes.
Several shops in Amman and other large cities in Jordan closed on Wednesday in solidarity with the drivers.
The government promised to look into their demands, but said it had already invested 500 million dinars throughout the year to curb price increases.
In Amman they say that they are bound by commitments given to the International Monetary Fund as part of an economic reform, which limits the extent of subsidies to residents.
Against the background of the tense situation, the police in the capital Amman raised the alert for the possibility of demonstrations against government institutions, and the United States Embassy in the Kingdom warned its government employees against personal and official trips to South Jordan.
King Abdullah, who has ruled Jordan since 1999, has faced several popular protests over the years, which sometimes turned into violent clashes.
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