Jordanians hold anti-US protest

Jordanian protesters carry a national flag during an anti-government demonstration in Amman, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit on June 3, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/190286.html

Jordanian protesters have held an anti-US rally in the capital, criticizing Washington's interference in the country's reform movement.

Burning a US flag and chanting anti-US slogans, protesters on Friday accused the US of meddling in their government's policies and trying to direct and influence the protest movement in Jordan.

The anti-US protest rally was held in response to efforts by American diplomats to meet and advise anti-government activists and remarks made by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in praise of reform efforts by Jordan.

"We don't need Washington's help and we don't take orders from you," the Associated Press quoted activist Mohannad Safiin as saying.

"These are our protests. Keep out of our business. For years, the US government supported these same Arab regimes which have killed our own people," he added.

Demonstrators also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, whom the protesters hold responsible for the delay in adopting the promised economic and political reforms as well as failure to fight corruption.

They also called for freedom of press and condemned the government's "oppression" and "terrorizing" of the media a week after several journalists were beaten up by police as they tried to cover an anti-government sit-in in Amman.

Similar protest rallies were also held in several other cities.

Jordan's king has criticized the violence against journalists, saying that the government and police must allow journalists to cover political events and guarantee their safety. The government has promised to punish police officials involved in the attack.

Jordan has faced anti-government rallies demanding reforms and an end to corruption since January.

Last month, in a bid to appease protesters, King Abdullah II announced some concessions, including the formation of future governments that were based on an elected parliamentary majority rather than one appointed by the monarch.

He later said it may take two to three years to put an elected government in place.

Jordan king's motorcade attacked

In this photo released by the Jordanian Royal Palace, King Abdullah II (center top) greets people during his visit to Tafileh city, June 13, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/184537.html

The motorcade of the Jordan king has been attacked while he was on an official tour in the southern city of Tafileh, a security official says.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the security official said King Abdullah II was unharmed in the Monday incident but 25 police officers were injured, one of them seriously.

"(The rear) part of King Abdullah II's motorcade was attacked with stones and empty bottles by a group of men in their 20s and 30s after the king's car entered Tafileh," the official said, adding that the motorcade changed its route following the attack.

The royal court and the Jordanian government, however, have denied the report that the monarch was the target of the violence in the southern town, saying angry young Jordanians attacked anti-riot police guarding the motorcade of King Abdullah II.

"It is absolutely groundless. Footage taken during the visit to Tafileh proves that," a court official told AFP.

"The motorcade of his majesty the king was not attacked and the visit to Tafileh was successful," government spokesman Taher Adwan told state-run Petra news agency.

"All that happened was a quarrel between police and people who wanted to greet the king," he added.

Some reports say that the violence came after Tafileh mayor barred young unemployed from a town meeting with the king and also because of the harsh treatment by anti-riot police, who beat them as they tried to line the sidewalk for the motorcade and present petitions to the king.

"Those who do not represent the people of Tafileh have been chosen to sit with the king. We have been marginalized in a provocative step that shows how security apparatuses control the people," said a group calling itself the "Freemen of Tafileh."

The attack came a day after King Abdullah II vowed to enhance political and economic reforms and promised a new electoral law leading to a parliamentary government in an attempt to end months of anti-government protest rallies in the country.

Tafileh, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of the capital Amman, like other Jordanian cities, has been the scene of anti-government protests over the past months. Jordanians demand reforms, effective measures to fight corruption and the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and his cabinet.

Jordanians protest government policies

Protesters demand that the prime minister be democratically elected rather than appointed by the King

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/162421.html

Thousands of Jordanians have marched against the government's political and economic policies, demanding the prime minister's resignation.

The demonstrations, which were held following the Friday prayers in the capital Amman and other major cities, were organized by the country's main political opposition group, the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. It was the third consecutive Friday of protests in Jordan.

The demonstrators denounced Prime Minister Samir Rifai's economic policies, saying reforms introduced by him, which led to cuts in subsidies for basic commodities, have caused the soaring food and fuel prices, unemployment and poverty.

"Rifai go away, prices are on fire and so are the Jordanians,” protesters chanted.

Protesters have also demanded that the prime minister be democratically elected rather than appointed by the King.

Today's protests came while the prime minister and the country's ruler King Abdullah II have promised to make reforms.

On Wednesday, following two weeks of anti-government demonstrations in various cities across Jordan against high commodity prices and government policies, King Abdullah II announced that it is time to bring about more political and economic reforms in the country.

"Abdullah II insisted on the need to move forward with clear and transparent programs of political and economic reform, which will allow the kingdom to overcome the economic challenges, and assure Jordan and Jordanians the decent future they deserve," the royal palace cited the king as saying.

"The king underlined the need for senators and all officials to be in constant contact with the people in all provinces of the kingdom to hear their grievances and open a completely frank dialogue with them on their ambitions, their interests and the issues of the day," it added.

Jordan's prime minister has also announced a pay increase for civil servants and retirement pensions as well as the expansion of a state subsidy program.

The measures, however, failed to stop anti-government demonstrators from taking to the streets.

Inspired by the Tunisian revolution, Jordanians say they will press ahead with their campaign until their demands are met.

Opposition vows more protests in Jordan

Thousands of Jordanian demonstrators attend a protest rally against Jordan's economic policies, on January 21, 2011 in the capital Amman.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/162141.html

Islamist opposition in Jordan has called for fresh protests against the government's policies, saying it would press ahead with its campaign to force political and economic reforms.

Muslim Brotherhood, one of the largest opposition groups in Jordan, on Wednesday urged Jordanians to pour into streets later in the week to protest against Prime Minister Samir Rifai's economic policies and the political situation in the kingdom.

"We will hold rallies across Jordan after Friday prayers to demand improved living conditions as well as political and economic reforms," Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu Baker told AFP on Wednesday, adding that "such activities will continue until our demands are met."

In the past two weeks, thousands of Jordanians have staged peaceful protest rallies in the capital Amman and other cities, calling for political and economic reforms.

Chanting anti-government slogans, the demonstrators denounced economic reforms introduced by the prime minister, which led to cuts in subsidies for basic commodities, saying Rifai's policies have caused the soaring food and fuel prices, unemployment and poverty.

The protesters also demanded that prime minister be democratically elected rather than appointed by the King.

Inspired by Tunisian revolution, Jordanians say they will keep up the pressure until Rifai and his government resign.

Also on Wednesday, Jordan's King Abdullah II stressed the need for a program of political and economic reforms in the country to tackle popular grievances.

"Abdullah II insisted on the need to move forward with clear and transparent programs of political and economic reform, which will allow the kingdom to overcome the economic challenges, and assure Jordan and Jordanians the decent future they deserve," the royal palace cited the king as saying.

"The king underlined the need for senators and all officials to be in constant contact with the people in all provinces of the kingdom to hear their grievances and open a completely frank dialogue with them on their ambitions, their interests and the issues of the day," it added.

In response to the mass anti-government rallies, Jordan's prime minister has announced a pay raise for civil servants as well as the pensions of retired employees and expansion of a state subsidy program.