AMMAN (JT) - Amnesty International has called on authorities to launch full and independent investigations into the recent deaths of two men allegedly beaten by police officers.

Fakhri Kreishan, 44, died Saturday from wounds reportedly inflicted during a confrontation with police officers who came to his home seeking a suspect in a bad cheque case, sparking riots in his hometown of Maan.

In a similar incident, Sadem Saoud, a resident of the eastern Amman neighbourhood of Hai Al Tafaileh, died last week after allegedly being beaten by police while in detention. Intermittent clashes between Hai Al Tafaileh residents and police were witnessed following Saoud's death.

Four police officers have been referred to the Police Tribunal as suspects in Saoud's death, officials announced last week, while a second lieutenant was charged on Tuesday with "blows leading to the death of an individual" in the Kreishan case.

However, in a statement posted on its website, Amnesty expressed concern that the Kingdom's police courts are not sufficiently independent to render an impartial judgement in these cases.

"The reported deaths at the hands of the police of two men within one week of each other is a very worrying development," Philip Luther, director of the London-based human rights organisation's Middle East and North Africa programme, said in the statement.

"While the prompt referral of a number of police officers to police courts indicates that the authorities have acknowledged the seriousness of these incidents, a full and independent investigation is essential to ensure that justice is done,” he said.

"Jordan's police courts are neither sufficiently independent nor transparent in their conduct. The court decisions are not made public and the sessions are closed," he added.

The Amnesty statement urged authorities to establish independent investigations into the incidents, and called for the suspects to be suspended immediately from active police duty.