Thousands protest in Jordan against corruption
Published: Oct 7, 2011 22:38 Updated: Oct 7, 2011 22:38
AMMAN: Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets in Amman and several other cities on Friday to push their demand for the downfall of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit’s government, saying it had failed to deal with corruption and adopt political reform.
More than 2,000 activists demonstrated outside the Grand Husseini Mosque in central Amman under the slogan ”Political Reform Our Path for Eradication of Corruption”.
The demonstration was led by former Prime Minister Ahmed Obeidat, chairman of the National Front for Reform, and prominent members of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF).
They chanted slogans calling for “reform of the regime,” the resignation of the government and the dissolution of both houses of Parliament.
The protesters expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to adopt meaningful political reforms and to deal satisfactorily with the corrupt.
Addressing the rally, Obeidat said that the constitutional amendments recently adopted by the Parliament and approved by King Abdallah “did not live up to the aspirations of the people.”
“We want reforms that ensure fairness of the election process and prevent all forms of interventions,” he added, referring to charges that the security authorities in the country sought to obstruct reform.
Obeidat pledged that his front “will stand firmly in face of corruption and all conspiracies being forged against Jordan.”
Similar demonstrations were reported in the cities of Karka, Tafileh, Maan, Jerash and Salt.
In the city of Irbid, 80 km north of Amman, police used teargas to end clashes between pro-reform demonstrators and government loyalists, witnesses said.