Hoping to head off a re-enactment of scenarios in other Arab countries, Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday fired former Prime Minister Samir a-Rifa'i, and appointed in his place Maruf Bakhit. In a statement, Hussein's office said that Bakhit has been ordered to carry out “true political reforms.” The statement was issued through Jordan's official news agency, Petra.

Over the past several days, demonstrators in Jordan have been calling for government change, in the spirit of protests in Tunisia and Egypt.