Jordan's King Sacks Cabinet Amid Street Protests

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: ABC/AP

Jordan's Royal Palace says the king has sacked his government in the wake of street protests and has asked an ex-army general to form a new Cabinet.

King Abdullah's move comes after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets — inspired by the regime ouster in Tunisia and the turmoil in Egypt — and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai who is blamed for a rise in fuel and food prices and slowed political reforms.
...
Abdullah also nominated Marouf al-Bakhit as his prime minister-designate. No other details were immediately available.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=12809843

---

BBC radio says the new PM has been order to 'carry out political reforms'. Has Abdullah acted in time? Will he prove as good as his father at survival?

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. Trying to get ahead of the turmoil. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Because the people want MORE generals and intelligentsia folk.

:think:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. in some cases generals are considered less corrupt than lifetime politicians

like say our fondness for colin powell.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Dear General,

Dear General,

I admire your work.

Signed, Li'l Rif

[Ghost Dog]

13. Egypt general could be new leader-Islamist

LONDON (Reuters) - Egypt's armed forces chief of staff Sami Enan could be an acceptable successor to Hosni Mubarak because he is perceived as incorruptible, a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood said on Tuesday.

Kamel El-Helbawy, a prominent overseas cleric from Egypt's main opposition movement, told Reuters that Enan, who has good ties with Washington, was a liberal who could be seen as suitable by an opposition coalition taking shape on the streets of Egypt.

"He can be the future man of Egypt," Helbawy said in a telephone interview.

"I think he will be acceptable ... because he has enjoyed some good reputation. He is not involved in corruption. The people do not know him (as corrupt)."

Helbawy said Enan was not an Islamist but "a good, liberal man".

/... http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7100C520110201?sp=true

...And, as the article explains, "appears to have cordial ties with Washington."

[bemildred]

3. Oh yeah, that'll work. nt

[snagglepuss]

4. Jordan's King Abdullah dismisses government and appoints new PM

Source: BBC World Service

In Jordan, King Abdullah has dismissed his government and ordered the new prime minister, Marouf Bakhit, to carry out political reforms.

It follows weeks of large protests across the country against poverty and unemployment and calling for the prime minister to be directly elected.

Saad Hatter is a journalist in the Jordanian capital, Amman.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2011/02/110201_jordan_nh_sl.shtml

[Hissyspit]

5. Something in the water?

[snagglepuss]

6. He is smart to get in front of this. Better for him to be proactive rather than

wait for a massive protest. It'll be interesting to see if these actions will dissipate anger in Jordan.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. What goes on in Tunisia does not not stay in Tunisia.

[snagglepuss]

8. LOL. Bang on. nt

[Ghost Dog]

9. Meanwhile, not all is quiet in Tunisia:

... Major street protests have dried up in Tunisia in recent days, after a reshuffle purged the interim government of most Ben Ali loyalists and appeased public opinion.

But sporadic acts of intimidation and sabotage have broken out after weeks of protests forced Ben Ali to flee the country on January 14, ending 23 years of strict police rule.

...

Ben Ali, who was interior minister before he took power in 1987, had a vast network of police, security forces and spies. That network has not been dismantled since the revolution. Diplomats say that while Ben Ali's presidential guard had mostly been scattered or killed, a small number of armed loyalists may remain inside the country.

...

"The main sector that needs reform is the security forces that must begin to work for the people not against them," said Bacre Waly Ndiaye, who is leading an eight-member team sent to Tunisia by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

/... http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7100DW20110201?sp=true

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Hmm..Ben Ali said same thing as Mubarak, didn't he?

" I will not leave"
kept on saying it right up till he...left.

did you see where Jordan's king has hastily fired his own cabinet, trying to stay ahead of the tsunami?