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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jordan warned its citizens on Saturday from traveling through the main desert highway in southern Jordan near the governorate of Maan, after two Saudi men sustained gunshot wounds during the violent riots that afflicted the southern governorate in the past week.

The Saudi Embassy warned its citizens, urging them to use alternate routes and follow directives of Jordanian security forces until the chaos is contained in the region.

Angry residents in the past week blockaded major highways and roads near Maan, some 220 kilometers south of Amman, in reaction to the deadly violence that erupted in Al Hussein bin Talal University last Monday.

Four people were killed and dozens injured in the University during an "open day" to celebrate the anniversary of the university's founding that turned into student clashes that reportedly received arms and gun supplies from outside campus.

The incident escalated and spread to nearby towns as tribal members rioted in reaction to the death of two members of the Hweitat tribe.

Angry young men blocked the main desert highway, set up search points, stopped passing vehicles and checked the IDs of drivers and passengers supposedly in search of perpetrators of the deadly attacks in the university on Monday.

One Saudi national was struck by a bullet Friday morning and was rushed to Prince Zaid military Hospital where he underwent a surgery. The man was traveling on the highway near Al Hussainiya town in Maan along with his family in the vehicle.

Saudi media outlets reported that another Saudi national was struck by a bullet while traveling on the highway near Maan on Friday morning. The man, in his 50's, is reported to be in critical condition.

Saudi deputy Ambassador Hamad Hajiri told Ammon News that the Saudi Embassy called on Saudi nationals, both students and residents in Jordan, to avoid using the desert highway, and urged them to take the alternate road through Wadi Araba instead if they must travel.

Hajiri had said that embassy officials rushed to the southern governorate to transport the Saudi national, Hmoud al-Balawi, to a hospital in Amman, but doctors in the local hospital in Maan advised waiting until his condition improves. The man suffered from severe internal bleeding as a result of a bullet wound.

The Saudi diplomat said that the embassy is in communication with jordanian authorities and informed officials here of the second incident of attack on Saudi nationals.