Jordan King condemns violence

March 30, 2011

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's king has condemned his country's unrest and urged the opposition to join a national dialogue on reforms.

These were the first public remarks by King Abdullah II since Friday's violence, when one person was killed and 120 wounded in clashes between competing protesters, the worst flare-up in three months of weekly pro-democracy gatherings.

The King said he supports the freedom of expression but warned that he will not tolerate “vandalism and chaos.”

Abdullah condemned violence and said he did not fear reforms.

He spoke Tuesday to a national dialogue committee drafting laws for greater public freedoms, part of an effort to ease tensions.

The opposition accuses the government of ordering police to use excessive force to disperse last Friday's protest calling for reforms.

Meanwhile in Manama, Bahrain's parliament on Tuesday accepted the resignations of 11 lawmakers from the Shiite opposition, a sign that the political crisis and sectarian divisions are deepening in the tiny Gulf kingdom.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported the 40-member house approved the resignations of 11 Al Wefaq legislators. They and seven other lawmakers from the party submitted resignations last month over the deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. BNA said parliament postponed deliberations on the six other resignations.

In a statement Tuesday, the Shiite opposition called on supporters to continue challenging the Sunni monarchy's monopoly on power with acts of disobedience such as public mourning of “the martyrs who died to achieve the legitimate rights for Bahraini people.” Al Wefaq is the largest of seven opposition Shiite parties.

The opposition declared Saturday an official day of mourning. It also urged people to visit the graves of those killed by government forces every Thursday starting March 31.

Bahrain's parliament is the island nation's only elected body. It holds limited authority since all the country's decisions, including appointment of government ministers, rest with the king.

Two weeks ago, Bahrain declared three-months of emergency rule to deal with the demonstrations. Mostly Shiite protesters have been seeking to loosen the grip on power of a Sunni monarchy that has ruled Bahrain for 200 years. The protesters demand a constitutional monarchy that would have an elected government.

Source: Manila Bulletin.
Link: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/312065/jordan-king-condemns-violence.