One killed, four injured during election clashes in Jordan

One killed, four injured during election clashes in Jordan

2010-11-10 02:46:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMMAN, JORDAN (BNO NEWS) -- One person on Tuesday was killed and four more were injured after clashes between supporters of rival candidates in southern Jordan during the nation's Parliament elections, local media reported.

A 25-year-old man was killed in the clashes that took place in the town of Imrea, near the city of Kerak. To prevent further escalation of violence, police forces cordoned the area. In addition, four individuals were injured in the confrontation.

In a separate incident, supporters of a candidate running in the town of Abu Banna, about 8 kilometers of Tafileh, fired gunshots and injured two people in the shootout. After that, clashes between supporters erupted in front of the election centers in the town.

The two injured individuals were rushed to the military-run Prince Zayd Hospital, 3 kilometers south of Tafileh. In the violent clashes, vehicles were vandalized and a Tafileh resident was arrested in possession of 4 forged ID cards.

The elections were boycotted by the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan's main opposition group. In consequence, the parliamentary election will likely result in the election of candidates with tribal links and loyal to the ruling government as the opposition Islamists pulled out.

The Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm the Islamist Action Front (IAF) boycotted the polls after a new electoral law enacted last May that they allege that was designed to limit their influence. Jordan allowed for the first time 250 international observers to monitor the election process.

After the polls closed, only 33.72 percent of registered voters in Amman had cast ballots as informed by the elections Central Committee. This amount was the lowest in the country and is a direct consequence of the Islamists' boycott.

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