The United States Thursday said it supported the road map for reform laid out by Jordan’s King Abdullah and urged Jordanians to protest peacefully.
“There’s a thirst for change,” deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner acknowledged, adding the Jordanian people had “economic, political concerns” as well as “aspirations.”
The United States was monitoring the situation closely, Toner added, saying the US was aware of “the difficult economic situation” and that protesters had a right to demonstrate “as long as they do so peacefully.”
Demonstrators again took to the streets Thursday in several parts of the capital, Amman, a day after riots left one person dead and 71 wounded.
“We support King Abdullah II’s road map for reform and the aspirations of the Jordanian people to foster a more inclusive political process that will promote security, stability as well as economic development,” Toner said.
Jordan was “an important strategic partner and ally of the United States,” he added.
The unrest erupted on Tuesday night in response to a 53 percent increase in the price of household gas and a 12 percent rise in the price of petrol.
Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur has said the increases are necessary to help reduce a projected budget deficit this year of 3.5 billion dinars ($5 billion dollars).
The king dissolved parliament in October and called early polls. No date has yet been set, but the elections are already facing a boycott by the powerful Islamist opposition.
The opposition is calling for Jordan to bring in a parliamentary system in which the prime minister would be elected rather than appointed by the king.
US backs Jordan's king, urges peaceful protests
