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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Jordan Islamists want 'govt of national unity' |
| 2010-11-22 |
| [Arab News] Jordan's main opposition group, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), on Sunday urged the formation of a "national salvation government" to come to grips with the political and social problems facing the country. "The formation of a national salvation government that enjoys the confidence of the people has become an urgent necessity," the IAF Executive Bureau, the party's highest decision making body, said in a statement. "Such a government should open serious dialogue with all political and social forces in the country with a view to surmounting the impasse currently facing the country, otherwise the consequences will be more dangerous," it added. The IAF had boycotted the Nov. 9 parliamentary elections, demanding political reforms, including a new election law that provides for proportional representation. Media reports on Sunday suggested that King Abdallah was likely to ask Prime Minister Samir Rifai to form a new Cabinet after the elections that returned a majority of government loyalists in the lower house of Parliament. The IAF Executive Bureau held the government responsible for a series of social violence that swept the country over the past few months, including post-polls rioting. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... calm was restored to the northwestern Jordanian town of Salt on Sunday after four days of rioting sparked by the shooting of an alleged traffic violator, police said. Suleiman Khreisat remains at death's door after he sustained a gunshot wound to the head after he drove through a police roadblock on Wednesday, said police front man Lt. Col. Mohammed Al-Khatib. He said a police major shot the man while chasing after the vehicle. The officer has been nabbed and is being investigated for "using excessive force with a civilian." Al-Khatib said the victim refused to stop at the roadblock. "His vehicle had no license plates and broken front and back windows, which made it look suspicious," he said, adding that riots then erupted in the town. "Salt residents wanted to know who shot their townsman, demanding that police identify him so that they could take Dire Revenge™," Al-Khatib added. Dozens of residents hurled stones at police, smashed police kiosks, street lights, a building that belongs to traffic police, as well as shop windows and cars, including police vehicles. "Several coppers and citizens were also maimed and have been hospitalized," Al-Khatib said. He said police used tear gas to restore order. Al-Khatib said 34 rioters were also jugged and will face trial. |
| Posted by:Fred |