Jordan police storm newspaper office

Police in Jordan have stormed the office building of the country’s largest newspaper following a protest by the paper’s employees against a delay in payments and corruption in the government.

Police clashed with the employees of the semi-state-owned newspaper Al Rai on Wednesday, when its staff were protesting delayed wages and corruption in the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.

The protest continued until late on Wednesday. The staff called for the resignation of Ensour. They also blocked traffic in front of the paper’s office.

According to witnesses, several people were injured in the incident.

The Jordan Press Foundation is the parent company to Al Rai and is indirectly owned by the government through the Social Security Corp of Jordan.

The Al Rai editorial board has also threatened that it would boycott news items related to the premier if the employees’ demands are not met. The staff holds the government responsible for its problems.

Meanwhile, the Jordan Press Association censured the police for breaking into the newspaper and called on the government officials to address the problems of the newspaper immediately.

Jordan has witnessed demonstrations since January 2011, with protesters demanding political reforms that include the election of the country’s prime minister by popular vote and an end to government corruption.

Jordanian protesters say the government has failed to take proper action to improve the ailing economy of the country.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II has sacked three prime ministers since 2011.