Riots erupt in Jordan's southern city

Violent riots erupted Tuesday in the southern Jordanian city of Maan after the burial of two persons who died Monday in a brawl that broke out between Disi Water Conveyance Project workers in Shidiyeh in the south, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Following the burial of two Jordanians, unidentified and masked armed persons headed to the old market in Maan city and put several stores on fire, while others broke into Maan Court of First Instance, a training center affiliated to the city's municipality and Maan Municipality Court and set them ablaze, head of Maan police Colonel Aref Weshah said Tuesday.

On Monday, two people died and two others were injured in a brawl in Shidiyeh. The two fatalities sustained injuries in the head and chest. Several Maan residents set two police cars on fire Monday and tried to burn a gas station after the Shidiyeh incident.

According to Weshah, masked persons opened fire at a police station in the center of Maan, which is located about 220 km to the south of Amman.

He said the Gendarmerie Forces were deployed in the city to put the situation under control, adding that they used tear gas to disperse the crowds in the streets.

Director of Maan Public Hospital Walid Ruwwad said three persons who were shot in the lower part of their bodies were brought to hospital, adding that they were in a moderate condition.

Source: Xinhua