JORDANIANS RALLY TO SEEK REFORMS, END CORRUPTION

Hundreds of Jordanians demonstrated across the country on August 12 under the slogan of preserving “sovereignty” as the first step on the road of political reforms. Hundreds of activists belonging to pro-reform youth movements staged a rally outside the Grand Husseini Mosque in central Amman after Friday prayers. They raised placards and chanted slogans urging the building up of an “independent state” and the adoption of a “constitution that derives its legality from the people.”

A panel set up recently by King Abdallah for the amendment of the constitution was expected to unveil its recommendations next week. The demonstrators were demanding the resignation of the cabinet of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and the formation of “national consensus government” capable of carrying out reforms and fighting corruption. Pro-reform demonstrations were also reported at the Red Sea port of Aqaba and in Tafileh, 180 km south of Amman.