AMMAN: A majority of deputies in Jordan’s parliament have signed a petition demanding the dismissal of the country’s prime minister and Cabinet on the grounds that they failed to deliver on promised reforms, a lawmaker said Sunday.
Parliamentarian Mamdouh Abbadi said a memorandum signed by 70 out of 120 lawmakers was presented to the royal palace earlier in the day.

Although the deputies’ call is not binding, it echoes the demands made by street protesters who for the past several months have called for the ouster of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit and his Cabinet.
Parliament – which is in recess – must be in session to be able to sack Cabinet outright. So, the lawmakers appealed to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who has the final say on all state matters, to remove the prime minister.
There was no immediate word from the palace on the king’s decision.

Bakhit is a tough ex-army general widely seen as dragging his feet in implementing reforms. Recently, King Abdullah himself has said that he was becoming frustrated with the pace of change.
Saturday, unknown attackers hurled stones and fired shots to disperse participants at an anti-corruption conference in northern Jordan, injuring at least 35 people according to witnesses.
At least 35 people were slightly injured and 27 cars damaged, organizers of the meeting said.