AMMAN - Jordan's US-backed King Abdullah swore in on Monday a reform-minded government charged with speeding up political liberalization in response to domestic pressure for change after protests inspired by popular uprisings in the Arab world.
Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh, a former international jurist at the Hague-based International Court of Justice, was appointed last week to replace conservative ex-general Marouf al-Bakhit, who had been widely criticized for inept handling of the domestic crisis.
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The new cabinet lineup also includes moderates, tribal politicians and technocrats to widen its national appeal.
Abdullah told Khasawneh last week that his cabinet's mission was to
accelerate reforms that the outgoing cabinet had been slow in pushing
through.
Bakhit had also antagonized Jordanian protesters and the Islamist
opposition though heavy-handed policing of peaceful pro-reform rallies.
He was dismissed after mounting criticism by parliamentarians and senior
officials of his performance.
The powerful Islamist opposition declined Khasawneh's invitation to join
the cabinet, although they gave his administration a cautious welcome
and said they would back a reformist agenda.