Ammon News - By Anas Ali

AMMONNEWS - Protesters on Friday expressed rejection of the presence of American soldiers on Jordanian land, following reports that the US military will send 200 soldiers to Jordan in part of the country's effort to coordinate with Jordanians in monitoring Syria's chemical weapons.

Two protests launched in downtown Amman following Friday midday prayers, one was organized by popular and Islamist movements, which marched from Al Husseini Mosque to the Royal Hashemite Court.

Another protest, organized by leftist and pan-Arab movements, marched from Al Husseini Mosque to Al Nakhil Square. Both protests united in rejecting US military presence on Jordanian land.

The leftist and pan-Arab movements protest was joined by a coalition of activists against what they described "the American-Zionist" conspiracy against Syria. Pro-Syrian regime activists claimed that the campaign against the Syrian regime conspires to destroy the country for the benefit of Zionist interests in the region.

The Jordanian Armed Forces last week denied that the US soldiers' presence had anything to do with Syria, stressing instead that they are arriving in part of joint international military training in the annual "Eager Lion" military exercises.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had announced before Congress that the Pentagon will send 200 US soldiers to replace other units that had been in Jordan for months.

Protesters also called for tangible political and economic reforms in the country.

Both protests ended peacefully.



* Photo: Protesters in Jordan reject US military presence in Jordan. Friday, April 26, 2013, Downtown Amman. (Ammon News photo)