| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Muslim Brotherhood Linked to New Protests in Jordan |
| 2012-11-14 |
| Jordanians staged scattered protests and work stoppages on Wednesday, a day after hikes in fuel prices triggered rioting in several cities and rekindled fears of deepening unrest in this strategically vital U.S. ally. At least 14 people were reported injured in clashes overnight as protesters set fire to cars and gas stations and damaged at least one government building in a provincial town. The disturbances were the worst in Jordan since the start of the Arab Spring movement nearly two years ago. The demonstrations began within hours after the government announced that it was rolling back subsidies for several fuel products, from gasoline to the propane used by Jordanians for heating their homes and cooking, a move that sent prices soaring by 15 to 33 percent. Some protesters chanted slogans calling for the ouster of King Abdullah II, an unusual occurrence in a country whose monarch traditionally has enjoyed widespread support. Security officials blamed the unrest in part on the country's Muslim Brotherhood, accusing leaders of the religious movement of cynically exploiting discontent over higher prices. "This was not spontaneous," said a government security official, insisting on anonymity in discussing internal assessments about the protests. "The Muslim Brother had a plan and they were well-organized. For them, it is a gift from heaven." The subsidy roll-back was the latest in a long series of economic shocks to Jordan, a resource-poor country that has suffered from both higher global petroleum prices and multiple supply disruptions since the start of Arab Spring. Jordan has long subsidized fuel costs for ordinary citizens, but government officials and private analysts say the practice was no longer sustainable, given Amman's multibillion-dollar budget deficit. |
| Posted by:tipper |