'Business as usual' in Madaba after fuel price riots

The city of Madaba returned back to normal with markets reopening to shoppers after three days of riots over a fuel price hike in which public and private property was assaulted by angry protesters. Former Senator Mohammad Azaydeh said life is back to normal in the city, 30 KM south of Amman, as people are coming to grips with the economic hardships the country is facing that prompted the government to lift subsidies on oil derivatives. "All grassroots popular forces in Madaba, thanks to them all, have made efforts to keep the peace," he said, adding that expressions of opinion should be free without resorting to obstruction of people's business," added Zaydeh. Khaled Tawalbeh, an engineer, said people are going around their business without fear or hesitation, echoing the view that free expression is guaranteed for all but it should be within the limits of law and order and without violence or vandalism. Trader Ali Shoubaki said life Madaba, a tourism hub and site of Mount Nebo, had not been affected by the minor incidents that occurred, expressing hope that calm would also prevail country-wide.