The following code is used in the first column of a datatable (it's an edit link)
<a4j:commandLink limitToList="true"
reRender="...."
actionListener="#{bb.dataAction}"
oncomplete="showReq()">
<f:verbatim> Edit </f:verbatim>
<f:param name="requestIdToEdit" value="#{req.id}" />
<f:param name="requestTypeToEdit" value="#{req.requestType.code}" />
</a4j:commandLink>
Additional info; If i change the "verbatim" to "outputtext", everything works