26 March 2011
Amman - Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, Saed Hayel Sorrour Saturday affirmed that the government is committed to and keen on citizens safety, protection and freedom of expression.
In a joint press conference with Public Security Department PSD Director Maj. General Hussein Majali and Forensic Doctor Qais Qussos, the deputy premier stressed that it is a joint responsibility for the government and protests organizers to select places that don't harm people's and traffic movement.
However, Sorrour added, it is also the government's and security agencies' responsibility to protect citizens lives and interests. What happened yesterday is "a black point" in the history of freedoms in the Kingdom, he said.
77 citizens and 83 police and gendarmerie personnel were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment, the minister explained, adding that 8 citizens and 17 of the security forces are still in hospitals.
Sorrour told reporters that prosecutors-general are probing the incident and that 21 people were arrested and referred judiciary. Speaking on the man who died in yesterday's incident, the minister said that Khairi Jamil Sa'ad took part in "Nida Al Watan" march in western Amman and after the march ended, he and other participants came to the Interior Minister Circle and delivered a speech that hailed national unity and the King but after that he fell and was taken to hospital.
The Minister denied a second death as some media outlets reported. The PSD director said that security forces dealt with yesterday's incident with highest degrees of professionalism and didn't carry weapons or use tear gas or rubber bullets.
Majali asserted that police are not politically motivated and deal with citizens with respect and neutrality regardless of their origins or political orientations, adding that the gathering at Interior Ministry Circle started on Thursday with participants reaching 500 by the evening, 100 at dawn and 500 during Friday noon prayers but the number rose and blocked traffic in vital intersection in central Amman.
He said it is regrettable to pin the blame the security forces who relentlessly tried to avert clashes, stressing that without the police's intervention things would have been much worse.
Doctor Qais Qussos said that a forensic team comprising him and other two doctors performed a post-mortem on the body of Khairi Jamil Sa'ad, and the autopsy revealed that the 56-year-old man did not suffer any head injuries and the cause of death was a heart failure.
Responding to reporters questions, the Interior Minister said that the government will not allow any protests or marches at the vital Interior Ministry Circle, affirming that the government is keen that citizens express their views freely in the right places that don't harm other people interests and lives.
Amman - Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, Saed Hayel Sorrour Saturday affirmed that the government is committed to and keen on citizens safety, protection and freedom of expression.
In a joint press conference with Public Security Department PSD Director Maj. General Hussein Majali and Forensic Doctor Qais Qussos, the deputy premier stressed that it is a joint responsibility for the government and protests organizers to select places that don't harm people's and traffic movement.
However, Sorrour added, it is also the government's and security agencies' responsibility to protect citizens lives and interests. What happened yesterday is "a black point" in the history of freedoms in the Kingdom, he said.
77 citizens and 83 police and gendarmerie personnel were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment, the minister explained, adding that 8 citizens and 17 of the security forces are still in hospitals.
Sorrour told reporters that prosecutors-general are probing the incident and that 21 people were arrested and referred judiciary. Speaking on the man who died in yesterday's incident, the minister said that Khairi Jamil Sa'ad took part in "Nida Al Watan" march in western Amman and after the march ended, he and other participants came to the Interior Minister Circle and delivered a speech that hailed national unity and the King but after that he fell and was taken to hospital.
The Minister denied a second death as some media outlets reported. The PSD director said that security forces dealt with yesterday's incident with highest degrees of professionalism and didn't carry weapons or use tear gas or rubber bullets.
Majali asserted that police are not politically motivated and deal with citizens with respect and neutrality regardless of their origins or political orientations, adding that the gathering at Interior Ministry Circle started on Thursday with participants reaching 500 by the evening, 100 at dawn and 500 during Friday noon prayers but the number rose and blocked traffic in vital intersection in central Amman.
He said it is regrettable to pin the blame the security forces who relentlessly tried to avert clashes, stressing that without the police's intervention things would have been much worse.
Doctor Qais Qussos said that a forensic team comprising him and other two doctors performed a post-mortem on the body of Khairi Jamil Sa'ad, and the autopsy revealed that the 56-year-old man did not suffer any head injuries and the cause of death was a heart failure.
Responding to reporters questions, the Interior Minister said that the government will not allow any protests or marches at the vital Interior Ministry Circle, affirming that the government is keen that citizens express their views freely in the right places that don't harm other people interests and lives.
© Jordan News Agency - Petra 2011
