Jordanian authorities dispatched special forces to the southern city of Maan to round up suspects in a search for Muslim militants linked to the killer of a U.S. diplomat, witnesses and officials said. On Sunday, police arrested about 10 people and confiscated automatic weapons in the city. According to unofficial reports, at least two people were killed during this raid.
Witnesses said scores of anti-riot armoured personnel carriers were seen heading from Amman to reinforce army troops encircling the city.
Maan has been tense for the last ten days since a prominent Muslim fundamentalist leader Mohammad Chalabi, known as Abu Sayaff, was wounded in a shootout with police, Reuters reported.
Chalabi escaped and was under protection of his supporters in the city. He was among around 30 wanted men, all ex-convicts and Muslim activists, usually rounded up after every major security incident, a security source said.
The crackdown in Maan was aimed at restoring order and end a state of lawlessness by "hooligans and extremists", a Jordanian security source told Reuters. (Albawaba.com)
