5,000 protest in Jordan

More than 5,000 Jordanians took to the streets across the country yesterday to protest at rising fuel and food prices and demand the prime minister’s removal.

University students, leftists and labour activists staged rallies in five cities — Amman, Irbid, Karak, Salt and Maan — waving Jordanian flags, carrying placards and chanting for Prime Minister Samir Rifai to step down.

Police and plainclothes officers formed rings around the demonstrators to contain the protests. There were no reports of arrests or violence.