Jordan's king fires government amid protests

AMMAN, JORDAN: Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday fired his government and appointed a new prime minister following weeks of protests, Ammon News reported.

Maarouf Al Bakhit, a former prime minister, was asked to form a new government to replace former Prime Minister Samir Rifai's government.

The new government will have the task of "taking practical, swift, and tangible steps to launch a real political reform process, in line with the King's vision of comprehensive reform, modernization and development," said the Jordanian king.

Bakhit told Ammon News that he began consultations to form a new government, expressing that his focus is to fulfill the directives and aspirations of King Abdullah and the Jordanian people.

Over the past several weeks, thousands of protesters have called on Samir Rifai and his government to resign. Rifai has been blamed for price hikes, excessive taxation, unemployment, and difficult economic conditions.

According to Bakhit, a former army officer, it will take a few days to finalize his selection for the new cabinet.

BNO NEWS