Egypt fallout? Jordan King sacks government after street protests

Jordan’s Royal Palace said the king has sacked his government in the wake of street protests and has asked an ex-army general to form a new Cabinet.

King Abdullah’s move comes after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets – inspired by the regime ouster in Tunisia and the turmoil in Egypt – and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai who is blamed for a rise in fuel and food prices and slowed political reforms.

The Royal Palace says Rifai’s Cabinet resigned on Tuesday.

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Abdullah also nominated Marouf al-Bakhit as his prime minister-designate. No other details were immediately available.

A royal official said the monarch officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai,a wealthy politician and former court adviser and asked Bakhit to form a new government.