Jordanian Opposition to Stage National Protests Friday

TEHRAN,May (FNA)- The supreme coordination council of the opposition parties in Jordan announced that Jordanians will hold nationwide rallies this Friday.
"After doing their Friday prayers this week, Jordanian citizens will hold national protests to announce their support for the Palestinians and underline their rights, including the refugees' right of return and establishment of an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital," the committee said in a statement obtained by FNA.

The statement also expressed deep concerns about the Jordanian statesmen's inattention to their promises of making nationwide democratic reforms and forming different committees, including national dialogues committee, constitutional reforms committee and economic talks committee.

The opposition groups in their statement called on the Jordanian citizens to increase protests and pressures on the country's officials to make them give in to the popular demands for making reforms.

Pro-reform demonstrators in Jordan have been pressing for a series of changes to loosen the control of the king over the government, including popular elections for the prime minister, who is currently appointed by the king.

New laws on elections and political parties - key demands of the protesters - are expected to be presented to the government by month's end, said Musa Barhouma, a national dialogue member, during the Amman demonstration.

"The road to reform is long," said Muath Khawaldeh, spokesman for the youth movement demanding reform. "So far we have not seen serious steps taken by the government."

"But this won't stop us from protesting until our demands are met," he reiterated.