Scuffle halts Jordanian Parliament session

A Jordanian parliamentarian reached for a gun during a session in Parliament, leading to the session to be adjourned, officials said. Member of Parliament Shadi al-Adwan allegedly touched his gun as he approached fellow lawmaker Zeid Shawakbeh, who had accused Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour of corruption. Shawakbeh interrupted Ensour, who was speaking on a government decision to raise fuel prices, several times as the prime minister spoke Wednesday on the Parliament floor. When Shawakbeh headed toward Ensour, Adwan approached Shawakbeh and touched his gun in a threatening manner, The Jordan Times reported Thursday. Adwan and Shawakbeh traded insults while Deputy Lower House Speaker Khalil Atiyeh tried to restore order. Atiyeh suspended the session but Adwan and Shawakbeh continued their confrontation outside Parliament, with other parliamentarians joining the conflict, the Times said. One lawmaker was injured in the scuffle and taken to a hospital, the newspaper said.