Jordanians demonstrate for political reforms

Thu, 24 Mar 2011

Amman - Hundreds of young people rallied in Jordan on Thursday for political reform and a crackdown on corruption.

Participants held up placards calling for the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and constitutional changes.

Organizers of the rally, a group calling itself "March 24 Youth", said they had no political affiliations and planned to stay near Amman's Gamal Abdel Nasser Square until their demands are met.

The protest went ahead despite remarks by King Abdullah II on Wednesday, when he seemed to rebuke Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit for a delay in coming up with the political reforms.

"As of today, I will not accept any excuse for delaying the process of political and economic reforms," the monarch said in a rare letter to Bakhit.

Bakhit has set up a 53-member National Dialogue Committee with aim of redrafting the election law and political parties law.

The Muslim Brotherhood movement and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), has refused to attend meetings, citing Bakhit's failure to include constitutional amendments on the agenda.

Islamists and other opposition figures said they want reforms to include turning the country into a constitutional monarchy through limiting the king's powers, particularly in government appointments.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/373178,jordanians-demonstrate-political-reforms.html.