Jordan changes finance, water and health ministers

AMMAN, Sept 2 (Reuters) Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakheet appointed new finance, health and water ministers in a cabinet reshuffle, officials said today.

They said Hamad Kasasbah, deputy finance minister, was appointed finance minister, replacing top economic decision-maker Ziyad Fariz, who resigned nearly two weeks ago after Bakheet overruled his recommendation to hike petrol prices to curb a spiralling budget deficit.

Mohammad al-Shatnawi replaced Thafer al-Alem as water and irrigation minister, while Salah al-Mawajdeh replaced Saad Kharabsheh as health minister.

Alem and Kharabsheh were both fired on July 29 after an inquiry found official negligence in the maintenance of a public water system that caused a virus which hospitalised hundreds of people in a rural village in northern Jordan.

The dismissal of ministers is rare in the kingdom where few public officials are held accountable.

REUTERS PDT VC1845