Dozens of people were injured in Jordan on Friday when pro-government elements reportedly attacked Islamists who were gathering at a mosque in the city of Mafraq, 60 kilometres east of Amman, for a pro-reform rally, a leading member of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) said, dpa reported.
Abdul-Majeed Khawaldeh told dpa that he and his son were wounded in the assault, which he described as a "pre-planned systematic attack by pro-government men with the aim of foiling the drive for reforms and fighting corruption in the country."
The peaceful rally, which was organized at Mafraq's Grand Mosque, was attacked by stick-wielding and stone-throwing people, said Khawaldeh, a former member of parliament.
He held security officials responsible for not protecting the rally.
There was initial comment from the government.
On Thursday, a youth group affiliated to the influential Bani Hassan tribe threatened to foil a planned rally by the IAF, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan's main opposition grouping.
The IAF is teaming up with other opposition parties and pro-democracy groups in demanding meaningful political reforms, including an up-to-date election law that ensures proportional representation in the lower house of parliament.
Several other demonstrations were staged in the capital and in other major cities on Friday to press for political reforms and fight corruption.