In response, the riot troops fired tear gas into crowds and chased people down the streets with clubs, beating some senseless.

The day started early with riot troops in black masks storming a bank and freeing six hostages.

Jordanian and Kuwaiti ministers deny that Jordanian riot troops were used to quell protests.

"The police and soldiers there are not murderers," he said, pointing to dozens of riot troops protecting the state buildings around the plaza.

Fourteen thousand policemen and riot troops were deployed in the capital to assure order.

Students, who for years battled riot troops and the military Government with firebombs and lead pipes, now struggle for the few empty seats in libraries.

Large numbers of riot troops were deployed along with mounted police and K-9 units, acting more systematically than before.

It followed weeks of ethnic turbulence in Soviet Georgia, where 20 demonstrators were killed on April 9 by riot troops.

Some complained to human rights monitors when riot troops scratched the finish on protesters' luxury cars.