AMMAN (Xinhua) – Jordan’s Public Security Directorate (PSD) says it will beef up security presence across the country to ensure enforcement of the law after a police officer was killed on Thursday in “riots” in southern Jordan. Increasing security presence aims to safeguard citizens’ security and safety as well as their freedom and safety of movement on the nation’s roads, said a PSD statement. Anyone attempting to attack public and private property will be confronted by department personnel, it added. Earlier in the day, the PSD announced the arrest of 44 people who reportedly took part in riots in various parts of the country which resulted in the death of the police officer and the injury of 49 others.

Also on Saturday, Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh stressed the importance of taking necessary measures to maintain law enforcement, implement the rule of law, protect public and private properties and more, state-run Petra news agency reported.