Jordanians demand PM's resignation

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183074.html

Thousands of Jordanians have poured into the streets across the country, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit.

Protesters, who took to the streets following the Friday Prayers, accuse the government of failing to fight corruption and adopting political and economic reforms.

They also called for the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and condemned the interference of security forces in state affairs.

"We want to reform the regime in a way that people can rule themselves. Therefore, this requires comprehensive constitutional reforms that insures of an independent parliament and that a majority at the parliament would rule. We want a fair elections law that presents people's will”, Reuters quoted Hikmat Rawashdeh, a senior member of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) as saying.

"We want an end to meddling of security apparatus in state affairs and combating corruption and corrupts," he added.

Organizers say over 3,000 people took part in the protest rallies on Friday in seven Jordanian cities, including the capital, Amman.

Demands for reform have intensified since a convicted tycoon, who was serving a three-year prison term for bribery and corruption, fled the country.

Two Cabinet ministers resigned last week over Khaled Shaheen's disappearance from the country.

Jordanian protesters also gathered near the Israeli embassy in the capital and called for an end to Amman's ties with Tel Aviv and stressed the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.

"No to an Israeli embassy in an Arab land," the protesters chanted.

Meanwhile, dozens of journalists and activists demonstrated outside the premier's office in the capital to demand the release of the detained journalist, Alaa Fazzaa, who was arrested on charges of publishing an article on his website that Amman claims is harmful to the monarchy.