Jordan : 24 held for insulting king

24 held in Jordan for insulting king
Sunday, April 01, 2012

Jordanian authorities have arrested at least two dozen activists following a protest critical of King Abdullah II which called for a change of government.

Anti-riot forces stormed a sit-in opposite the prime ministry in Amman after participants protesting the detention of six pro-democracy activists chanted slogans criticising the Jordanian monarch and threatening 'regime change.'

According to witnesses and participants, police moved in when 150 activists began chanting slogans critical of the 'residents of Raghdan palace' - an indirect reference to King Abdullah and a violation of the country's penal code.

A police statement said on Saturday the government condoned peaceful protests, but would 'deal firmly' with violators of the law.

The official insisted on anonymity because he was not allowed to comment on an ongoing investigation.

bigpondnews.com