Arab uprising: Country by country - Jordan

Jordan

Unrest has simmered since January last year but while protesters have clashed with the security forces, and one man was killed in the capital Amman in March, the country has seen nothing like the deadly violence in Syria and Egypt.

Protesters have been demanding better employment prospects and cuts in food and fuel costs, as well as electoral reforms that would see the prime minister directly elected and more powers granted to parliament.

In February 2011, King Abdullah II replaced his prime minister with Marouf al-Bakhit, a former general and ambassador to Israel, together with a new cabinet.

In a speech to mark the 12th anniversary of his rule, the king also promised to give up his power to appoint prime ministers and their cabinets, though he has not given a precise indication as to when this will take place.

In October 2011, King Abdullah replaced Mr Bakhit with judge Awn al-Khasawneh, who in turn abruptly resigned in April 2012.

The successive administrations have been criticised for slow progress in drafting new electoral laws needed for parliamentary polls due before the end of the year.

A powerful Islamist opposition group, the Islamic Action Front, has said an electoral law passed by parliament in June does not go far enough in reforming the voting system, which they say is weighted in favour of pro-monarchy tribal voters.

The IAF has also criticised what it sees as the continuing interference of the security services in politics.

Jordan is a small country with few natural resources, but it has played a pivotal role in the power balance in the Middle East, as one of only two Arab nations to have made peace with Israel.