Police injured in Syrian refugee camp riot

Ten policemen have been injured after clashing with demonstrators as riots gripped the Zaatari Syrian refugee camp outside the Jordanian city of Mafraq. The source, declining to be named, said two of the policemen were in serious condition after the clash on Friday night. Violence broke out as 100 refugees held a protest against living conditions in Zaatari, home to more than 160,000 Syrians who have fled the bloodshed in their country, and a ban on leaving the desert camp near the border with Syria. There were no casualties amongst the camp’s refugee population. Sources claim riots initially broke out after security forces tried to prevent a Syrian family from smuggling tents outside the camp to sell them. General Coordinator for Refugees Anmar Hamoud has meanwhile claimed the riots were caused by “tight security measures” against smuggling. Jordan’s public security forces began managing camp security last month. Jordan says it is hosting more than 500,000 Syrian refugees and the United Nations High Commissioner expects the number to soar to 1.2 million by the end of this year -- equivalent to a fifth of the kingdom's population. On April 15, Jordan said the impact of the war in Syria was a threat to its security and that Amman would seek the United Nations Security Council's help in tackling the fallout.