PSD director holds press conference

Director of the Public Security Department (PSD ) General Hussein Majali on Thursday said security forces has dealt with “utmost professional way” with demonstrators protesting the government’s lifting of subsidies on major oil derivatives. He pointed out, during a press conference on Thursday, that the security apparatus since the start of the Kingdom’s popular reform movement a year and a half ago has accommodated demonstrators and gave them full protection. Majali said that in the northern city of Irbid, twelve policemen were injured early today when a group of “gunmen” attacked their station. One of the gunmen, Qais Omari, died in the shootout, the PSD director indicated. In a separate attack in Shafa Badran in Amman, gunmen, using automatic weapons, shot and injured a policeman, directly hitting one of his eyes. he is in a critical condition, Majali noted. Majali also pointed out that rioters set fire to the government’s headquarters, banks, several pubic vehicles and exchanged fire with security personnel in the kingdom since the beginning of the violent riots. The Police Chief also said that 158 people were arested but police will release those who are not engaged in serious offensives. Majali added that 30 gendarmerie and 24 policemen were injured during the violent riots. He stressed the fact that the PSD will not allow anybody to damage public and private property nor assaulting citizens or policemen.