Jordanian town calm after clashes over jobs

By Ahmed Fahim

AMMAN (AA) - Cautious calm has returned to Dhiban, south of Jordanian capital Amman, following clashes between security forces and job-seeking demonstrators.

The violence erupted on Wednesday after security forces cleared a sit-in staged by a group of youths demanding jobs.

In a statement, Jordanian police said that three security personnel were shot by “wanted individuals” during the clashes.

Police said its forces used teargas to disperse “trouble-makers” who blocked roads and attacked a local security headquarters in the area.

“Some of the trouble-makers and demonstrators used automatic weapons to fire directly” security forces, police said.

It was not clear how many protesters were injured in the clashes.

For the past two months, two dozen youths staged an open-ended sit-in to demand employment.

According to government figures, unemployment in Jordan has jumped to 14 percent.

Growth slumped to 2.4 percent in 2015, down from 3.1 percent the previous year.