AMMAN: A bomb aboard a tourist bus coming from Syria exploded yesterday [May 22] at a Jordanian border post, killing 14 people, and injuring 36.

The bomb went off aboard the bus from Damascus as Jordan customs officials at Amman were searching it. Seven of the dead were Jordan military police, two were Iranian passengers.

A Pakistani, who was injured, was identified as Haji Mohammad Ali. — Agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Hong Kong,] a curfew was imposed on Hong Kong island tonight as chaotic conditions reigned in the central business district after a day of disturbances.

All buses and trams stopped running this afternoon. Long lines of buses stood bumper to bumper after being abandoned by their drivers blocking traffic for a long time along the waterfront.

Business offices and shops closed early because of the curfew. The streets were thronged in the later afternoon with office workers walking home.

Violence exploded this morning when a group of Communist demonstrators tried to push past a Police cordon barring their way to Government House.

Two platoons of riot police charged at the demonstrators, hitting them with batons. Some of the demonstrators, including about seven girls, were seen covered with blood. There were blood stains on the pavement outside the Hilton Hotel after the incident.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017