By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Saturday, February 05, 2011

AMMAN: Jordan’s Islamist leaders said that talks with King Abdullah II had been “frank” and centered on reform while protestors gathered Friday outside the prime minister’s office.

“The meeting with the king was frank and clear and touched on various national problems, notably political reform, a modern and democratic electoral law … which will lead to the formation of a parliamentary government,” the Islamic Action Front (IAF) said Thursday after its meeting with the monarch.

The talks, it added in a statement on its website late Thursday, had also focused on making “the constitutional amendments necessary for a partnership with all political forces.”

The IAF, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, wants to amend the Constitution to allow the head of the parliamentary majority to become de facto prime minister. The 1952 constitution gives the king sole prerogative in appointing and removing premiers.

After Thursday’s talks, a statement from the royal palace said Abdullah had acknowledged that reforms have “decelerated and stumbled,” and pledged “serious steps” for change.
“Jordan’s reform drive has decelerated and stumbled, which cost the country a lot of chances to achieve progress,” the statement quoted the king as saying in the meeting.

However, the monarch went on to say: “I see a real opportunity to implement global reforms that will enable Jordan to become an example of security and stability.”

“My vision for comprehensive reforms and modernization must be translated into practical and serious steps focusing on all Jordanians and the country’s interests,” the monarch said.

In its statement, the IAF said it had stressed “the urgency of serious measures on the path to reform.”
“The king expressed his understanding and his intention to implement his vision of reform that will enable a new era,” the IAF said, adding that their delegation had submitted to the king a written document detailing their demands for reform.

The king named Maaruf Bakhit as prime minister Tuesday, instructing him to “take practical, quick and tangible steps to launch true political reforms.” However, the powerful IAF criticized Bakhit, saying he was not a reformist.
The IAF, Jordan’s main opposition group, says it seeks reform rather than regime change.

The march in the Jordanian capital of Amman Friday was far smaller than previous anti-government protests.
The IAF is confident about change after its meetings with the king and Bakhit, said a leader of the group, Nimer al-Assaf.

“We are very optimistic that change will happen,” Assaf said after Friday prayers at a mosque near the prime minister’s office where the activists had gathered.
He said the opposition would give the new government a chance.
“We want freedom, not martial laws. We need a government for the poor. We want electoral law that satisfies the young and old,” protestors chanted.

Protestors marched from the prime minister’s office to Cairo’s embassy to stage a sit-in to support the anti-regime protests in Egypt.

The protesters held banners which read: “We salute and support the great Egyptian people.”
“We are marching today to support the brave Egyptian protesters in their struggle to remove Mubarak the tyrant,” said Muslim Brotherhood leader Hammam Said.
Small protests took place in three other towns in Jordan.

“We want jobs and an end to corruption, which is making government officials rich on the expense of poor people like me,” said unemployed Mahmoud Abu-Seif, 29, who joined some 150 marchers in the city of Karak. – AFP, AP