Jordan government bans supporters from Amman demos

Mar 29, 2011

AMMAN — Jordan will ban government supporters from demonstrating in the capital, a top official said Tuesday as King Abdullah II vowed to fight attempts to "sabotage" the country's reform drive.

The measures will be implemented after last week's clashes in which one protester died and 160 were injured, as demonstrators calling for reforms and government supporters plan to mobilize again on Friday.

"From now on protests by loyalists can only be held outside Amman to avoid clashes with the opposition," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The opposition can demonstrate in certain areas in Amman," he said without elaborating.

On Friday, a 55-year-old protester died and 160 people were injured when police broke up a pro-reform protest camp following a stone attack by loyalists against young demonstrators near the interior ministry.

"The king condemned the violence on Friday and offenses to national unity," a palace statement said after he met members of a government committee to enhance reforms.

The two sides have vowed to hold fresh protests at a roundabout near the ministry again on Friday, with government loyalists saying one million supporters will join the rally, sparking fears of renewed violence.

Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit said on Monday the government will "allocate certain places for demonstrations, to protect protesters and avoid obstructing the lives of others."

"Carrying firearms, bats, stones and sharp tools as well as attempts to prevent peaceful demonstrations are condemned. They harm Jordan's image and reform drive," Bakhit told the state-run Petra news agency.

Mustafa Rawashdah, a member of the dialogue committee, told AFP that the king "stressed that Jordan will not allow anybody to 'sabotage' the reform drive".

"He told us that only two percent of Jordanians do not want reforms. He said that 'those who do not want reforms are not loyalist and loyalists must be reformist'."

Fifteen members of the panel quit after Friday's clashes.

"The king called for opening a new chapter and working as one team," Rawashdah said.

"You have a key role in transforming Jordan into a new era of reform, modernization and development. I will be the guarantor of your dialogue results. There is no alternative for dialogue," the palace statement quoted the king as telling panel members.

The powerful Islamist opposition has rejected the commission and called for Bakhit's ouster after the violence.

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