Protesters, embassy workers clash in Amman

Demonstrators and embassy employees clashed at the Syrian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, with each side blaming the other for starting the trouble. Syrian officials reported five embassy personnel were injured in the confrontation Sunday; an activist said three demonstrators were injured and hospitalized. An embassy official characterized the incident as an attack on Syrian employees. The activist said it was a peaceful demonstration in which protesters were attacked, CNN reported. Mohammad Abu Serreah, Syria's vice ambassador to Jordan, said about a dozen protesters dressed in suits and casual attire entered the embassy, then removed their jackets to reveal T-shirts supporting the opposition movement in Syria. He said the group was asked to leave but instead began beating the embassy staff, including himself, with sticks. Jordanian-based opposition activist Omar Abdallah said six men went to the embassy to renew their passports. Upon revealing T-shirts with the Syrian revolution flag, they were "attacked" by embassy security personnel, Abdallah said. The two sides also gave conflicting accounts on the number of arrests, CNN said. The embassy said nine people were arrested while activists said three. The United Nations said about 4,000 people have died since the anti-government protests began in Syria in March.