AMMAN: Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets of Amman and other cities Friday to protest soaring commodity prices, unemployment and poverty, calling for the sacking of the government. Carrying national flags and chanting anti-government slogans in downtown Amman, demonstrators that included trade unionists and leftist party members, called Prime Minister Samir Rifai a “coward” and demanded he resign. “Jordan is not only for the rich. Bread is a red line. Beware of our starvation and fury,” read one of the banners carried after mid-day Muslim prayers, amid a heavy police presence. “Down with Rifai's government. Unify yourselves because the government wants to eat your flesh. Raise fuel prices to fill your pocket with millions,” the protesters chanted as they marched in the city center. Similar demonstrations took place in the cities of Maan, Karak, Slat and Irbid, as well as other parts of the country. On Tuesday, Jordan announced a $169-million plan to reduce prices of commodities, including fuel, and create jobs in a bid to face rising popular discontent. But the protesters say these measures are not enough, complaining of growing unemployment and poverty as inflation last month reached 6.1 percent. They say government economic policies “have made the poor poorer and the rich richer.” The measures to control prices and create jobs follow widespread violent protests and fatal clashes with police in Algeria and Tunisia over inflation. “We want government to meet people's fair demands as quickly as possible, ease their burdens and start a dialogue with national powers to launch true and comprehensive reforms,” the powerful Islamist opposition said in a statement. The Muslim Brotherhood, its political arm the Islamic Action Front (IAF), and the country's 14 trade unions said they will hold a sit-in outside parliament Sunday to “denounce government economic polices.” “God knows where this tension would lead the country,” the unions said. “We demand a solution to this problem to avert any negative repercussions through reforming policies and carry out true and fair economic and political reforms.” – Agence France
