Jordanian police fire tear gas at protesters after six officers stabbed and seriously wounded

Jordanian police fired tear gas at protesters Friday after six officers were stabbed and seriously wounded, as more than 1,000 people demonstrated in Amman, demanding reforms and the ouster of the prime minister.

"Forty policemen were injured, including six stabbed, as they tried to disperse a demonstration by Salafists in Zarqa," Khatib said. "The six policemen are in serious condition." He claimed police "had to fire tear gas after a group of Salafists attacked some citizens following their demonstration in Zarqa, accusing them of being atheists."

News websites said dozens of protesters were injured in the clashes.

The Salafists have been demonstrating over the past few weeks to demand the release of 90 prisoners, including Abu Mohammed al-Maqdessi, the onetime mentor of slain Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Earlier in Amman, more than 1,000 people demonstrated after midday prayers, demanding "regime reforms," Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit's ouster and the dissolution of parliament. "The people want to reform the regime and eliminate corruption. Jordan is free, Bakhit, get out," demonstrators chanted as they marched from Al-Husseini mosque in the city centre to the nearby city hall. Holding large national flags, the protesters carried banners reading "the people want democracy and social justice" and "we want to dissolve parliament."

The demonstration was organized by the powerful Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), as well as leftist and other opposition parties. "The demonstrations will continue until reforms are achieved," Jamil Abu Baker, Brotherhood spokesman, told AFP. "So far, we cannot see any (government) intention to carry out reforms. The people are determined to have real reforms and get rid of corruption."