Ammon News - AMMONNEWS — The State Security Court's Public Prosecutor on Friday ordered the detention of a former member of parliament and outspoken critic of the Jordanian regime for 14 days pending investigation after charging him with incitement against the ruling regime in the kingdom.

Ahmad Owaidi Abbadi was arrested Thursday night after security forces raided a farm house where he was hiding, stirring supporters and members of his tribe to protest Thursday and Friday near the Eighth Circle in Amman.

The former lawmaker went into hiding nearly a week ago after he refused to report to the military tribunal for questioning over recent statements he made calling for transforming the political regime in the kingdom into a republic.

Judicial sources said SSC prosecutor ordered the detention of Abbadi in Juwaidah prison for a minimum of 14 days after he was cross examined on charges leveled against him, including "incitement against the existing regime."

Abbadi formerly served as a deputy in the 11th and 13th parliaments. In October 2007, the SSC charged him with undermining the country's reputation by spreading "false rumors" abroad, and sentenced him to two years in prison.

Meanwhile on Friday, clashes erupted between gendermarie forces and Abbadi supporters near the Eighth circle in southern Amman.

Security forces used teargas to disperse the crowds attempted to block the area in protest of Abbadi's arrest and detention.

Abbadi's defense attorney, Omar Allwan told Ammon News that gendarmerie forces used "excessive force" to disperse the crowds, and reported that several protesters were attacked by security personnel.

A statement by the Public Security Department (PSD) on Friday said that protesters instigated the attack on police and gendarmerie forces by throwing rocks, harming pedestrians, and attempting to block the main road, prompting security personnel to "intervene and use appropriate force" and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The statement added that some protesters vandalized public property, smashed windows of local shops, and torched garbage containers on fire.

Nine rioters were arrested during the clashes which extended until Friday evening, the PSD statement said, adding that police are working on arresting others who took part in vandalizing public property.

Several security personnel were injured in the clashes, the PSD statement reported.

Earlier on Friday, members of the Abbadi tribe and supporters held a meeting in solidarity with Abbadi in Badr Al Jadidah area near the Eighth Circle.

Speakers at the event claimed Abbadi's arrest is unconstitutional, noting that Abbadi did not call for turning Jordan into a republic, but rather warned of the ramification of continued endemic corruption in the state.

They stressed Abbadi's right to freedom of opinion and expression, citing that King Abdullah continuously underlines this constitutional right and guarantees that "sky is the limit" when it comes to freedoms.

"Abbadi's arrest is not in the best interest of the reform process," a speaker said, adding that the state ought to focus on combating corruption and implementing genuine reform measures instead of restricting freedoms.