Jordanians Call for King's Ouster during Rally

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Thousands of Jordanians have taken to the streets across the country to call for the ouster of their U.S.-backed monarch in the fourth day of unrest sparked by fuel price hikes that have threatened the stability of this Arab kingdom.

The protests came after similar rallies turned violent earlier this week, with one person killed and 75 others, including 58 policemen, injured in the unrest.

Crowds on Friday varied from about 150 people in the southern town of Tafila to 3,000 in the northern city of Irbid. The rallies were led by the largely secular Hirak youth movement.

The rare calls against Jordan's Abdullah II are seen as an expression of frustration over the sharp increase in fuel and gas prices. Jordan is plagued by poverty, unemployment and high inflation.

Comments 3
Missing mmckinl 16 November 2012, 16:47

Food, fuel, jobs ... the uprisings of the Arab Spring by the masses were not about democracy, they were about increasing poverty and lack of hope.

International NGOs absconded the unrest to portray "democracy" as the answer. Even though these corrupt regimes were swept away there are still these issues made worse by the unrest.

The rise in oil prices makes food and fuel ever more expensive taking ever more income distressing all the other sectors of the economy. What the powers that be are keeping secret is "peak oil production".

Because the 2008 financial crisis was never resolved the world economy is now reverting to crisis once again. Economies will falter leading to falling tax receipts hurting all countries ability to serve social needs ...

Jordan is no different ... They are facing this world wide phenomena and no amount of "reform" will produce the money needed to retain all subsidies no matter how necessary they are.

Missing phillipo 16 November 2012, 17:55

As far as gas is concerned why don't you state that the reason for the 23% rise in prices is that Egypt has closed the pipeline that for years supplied Jordan with natural gas.

Missing phillipo 16 November 2012, 19:11

If you don't believe me, then at least watch Al Jezeera television. That is where I get my information on this subject from.