Affrontements à Amman – 15 juillet 2011

Riot police attack demonstrators, journalists in Jordan’s capital

CNN

July 16, 2011

(CNN) — Riot police in Jordan attacked demonstrators Friday on the streets of Amman, in some cases punching, kicking and beating them with sticks.

Police got in between two groups — one backing the government while the other called for reform — to pacify the situation, government spokesman Abdullah Abu Rumman told state-run Petra news agency.

The incident occurred as dueling marchers met up in downtown Amman after Friday Muslim prayers, at which point authorities got involved.

Police Capt. Mahmoud El-Khatib offered a similar account to CNN, saying that police only used « appropriate force » while trying to do their jobs.

But video from reporters on the scene, including CNN, suggested a different story.

While there have been demonstrations in Jordan, as elsewhere in the Arab world, they have been largely peaceful and few have called for the ouster of its ruler, King Abdullah II.

Yet the violence Friday was at times stark, with riot police using batons, for instance, to beat protesters.

One man lay on the ground, covered with blood-soaked tissues after a witness said he was hit in the head. Another shows a big gash on his arms. A woman, part of a group of 20 huddled together, said she felt shaky after being knocked in the head. Read more...