US backs Jordan's planned reforms in response to protests

Mar 2, 2011, 18:02 GMT

Amman - A senior US official met separately Wednesday with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit to relay Washington's support for the political and economic reforms recently pledged by the two leaders, according to a US embassy statement.

Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Michael Posner 'emphasised the strong, long-term American commitment to the well-being of Jordan and the US appreciation of Jordan's many decades of work toward regional peace and prosperity,' the statement said.

He also underscored the 'US support for the king's call for sustained, serious and comprehensive programme of political and economic reform as the key to realizing the enormous potential of Jordan and Jordanians,' it added.

King Abdullah recently asked the new government of Bakhit to carry out 'real and speedy reforms' that lead to the formation of cabinets by political parties or coalitions with majorities in parliament.

The monarch earlier fired the cabinet of former Prime Minister Samir Rifai in response to a series of demonstrations that drew inspiration from the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

On Friday, thousands of Jordanians demonstrated in Amman and other major cities demanding the dissolution of the newly elected lower house of parliament and callin for early elections.

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