Jordan nixes constitutional monarchy calls

AMMAN - THOUSANDS of Jordanians demonstrated on Friday in Amman to demand 'regime reforms,' a day after Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit rejected calls for a constitutional monarchy.

'The people want regime reform. Reform is a popular demand. We want a new electoral law,' the protesters, including Islamists, trade unionists and leftists, chanted in the city centre after midday prayers.

Holding national flags, the demonstrators, estimated by Islamist leaders at 10,000 and by police at 5,000, carried banners reading: 'We need bread and freedom,' "Down with the bullying policy' and 'Together let's dissolve parliament.'

'We stick to our demands to have a modern electoral law, early elections, a new method of forming governments as well as more efforts to fight corruption,' Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu Baker told the crowds.

'We reject all attempts to kill or abort real political reforms, which should be implemented in line with a clear timeframe.' The demonstration, which the Islamists expected to attract 20,000, came a day after Mr Bakhit won a close vote of confidence, telling MPs that a constitutional monarchy, which some groups have been demanding, would 'unbalance Jordan's political system.'

Nationalists and independent Islamists have formed a commission for what they call a 'Constitutional Monarchy Initiative,' saying 'the solution for Jordan is to move to a constitutional monarchy under which the king does not rule.' -- AFP