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Ammon News - By Banan Malkawi

AMMONNEWS - Security and Gendarmerie forces on Friday attacked a number of protestors and journalists during a pro-reform protest in downtown Amman.

The demonstration launched following Friday midday prayer from Al Husseini Grand Mosque and headed towards Al Nakhil Square in Ras Al Ain, calling for political and economic reforms and ousting the incumbent Marouf Bakhit's government.

Clashes erupted as security forces tried to prevent protestors from marching towards the Greater Amman Municipality Square, and asked the pro-reform activists to protest inside Al Nakhil Square.

Protestors chanted slogans and raised placards demanding putting corrupt officials on trial, and stressed that they will continue protesting until they witness "real and tangible measures" to implement reforms and combat the rampant and endemic corruption plaguing the country, according to their expression.

The protest was held amidst very heavy security presence, with various police, gendarmerie and special forces surrounding the area.

Meanwhile, securtiy forces attacked a number of journalists working for local and international news outlets, including Ammon News' photographer and reporter Anas Damra.

Al Jazeera's Bureau Chief in Amman, Yasser Abu Hilalah and journalists Majdi Mansour, Khalil Mazrawai, Sami Mahasneh and a number of other journalists wearing bright orange vests with clearly marked "PRESS" logos were also attacked while covering the events.

The vests were distributed by Public Security Directorate (PSD), which asked journalists to wear them in an effort to distinguish them from protestors in case clashes erupted.

Agence France Presse (AFP) photographer was also injured in the clashes.

"We were beaten by security forces despite wearing the PRESS vests, I thought they would protect us," he said.

New York Times' reporter Faheem Kareem said that 10 security forces attacked him and beat him while photographing the protest.

Meanwhile, Head of Jordan's Press Association (JPA) Tareq Momani called on journalists to remove the vests distributed by PSD, and considered that "the vests were a trap to target journalists by gendarmerie forces," he claimed.

Seven Public Security Directorate personnel were also injured in the clashes, and two policemen were stabbed by unidentified assailants.

PSD Spokesperson Lt. Col. Muhammad Khatib said that security forces worked to distance counter-protestors, dubbing themselves as "loyalists" from the pro-reform protestors.

He claimed that shoving and clashes between the two groups led to a number of injuries, including journalists.