Government supporters clashed with young protesters in Amman on Friday, leaving eight people injured, in the first such violence since protests began in Jordan, witnesses and medical sources said.

"A quarrel broke out between pro-government rally and another demonstration staged in the same location," said police spokesman Mohamed Khatib, referring to the rally of young people demanding political change.

Demonstrators told AFP that they were dispersing when government supporters started to chase and hit them with batons.

Medical sources said two of the injured, a journalist and his son, were admitted to hospital with injuries. Witnesses added that six others were hurt as well, but did not need to go to hospital.