Anti-government protests in Jordan continue

Sun, 16 Jan 2011

Amman - Hundreds of Jordanians demonstrated Sunday in front of the parliament demanding improved living conditions and calling on the government to resign.

The protesters, who mainly belonged to the Islamic-led opposition parties and trade unions, raised placards and chanted slogans calling on the government of Prime Minister Samir Rifai to step down.

Several parliamentarians joined the demonstrators, witnesses said.

The protesters also urged amendments to election law, which they said produced a lower house that did not properly represent the people after parliamentary elections on November 9.

They praised the Tunisian uprising that forced President Zine Al Abidine ben Ali to flee the country last week.

In a parallel move, at least 11 parliamentarians signed a petition urging the government to resign, accusing it of failing to address worsening economic conditions, including rising prices of staple goods and fuel, parliamentary sources said.

"It has become clear that, after about a year since taking up its duties, this government is unable to carry on properly and that it should leave before conditions deteriorate further," the lawmakers said.

Thousand of Jordanians took part in demonstrations across Jordan on Friday to protest against worsening living conditions and call on Rifai to step down.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362593,anto-government-protests-jordan-continue.html.