Move comes as protesters are dissatisfied with slow pace of reforms; attempts made to bring Muslim Brotherhood into coalition.
By REUTERSJordan's King Abdullah 311(photo credit: REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed)
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.RELATED:Jordan: Israeli security, 1967 borders key to peaceJordan PM-designate tries to enlist Muslim BrotherhoodEx-central banker Umayya Toukan was appointed as finance minister in a move officials said aimed to allay investor concerns over soaring public spending that has threatened Jordan's fiscal and monetary stability.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.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
