Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Protests continue
Jordanians across the spectrum continued to denounce the assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin for the second day, by issuing statements condemning the `terrorist' dawn killing and taking part in various activities to protest against his murder. Lawyers, engineers and members of the influential professional associations observed a one-hour work stoppage at noon on Tuesday in a sign of mourning for Sheikh Yassin.
The 14 professional associations, which group more than 100,000 members, called for the stoppage. Some 400 association members and activists also took part in a sit-in to protest the assassination. They repeated calls on the government to scrap its 1994 peace treaty with Israel and pledged to avenge his death. Local newspapers were filled with condolences to Hamas and Yassin's family, while many citizens participated in a ceremony celebrating the martyrdom of the spiritual leader Tuesday afternoon. The ceremony, organised by the Muslim Brotherhood and held in front of the Islamic Hospital in Abdali, will also be held today.