More than 1,000 Jordanians marched in central Amman following the Friday Prayers, urging the government to return the prices of electricity, fuel and other commodities to what they were before and find other ways to tackle the huge budget deficit instead of putting the entire burden on the nation.
Jordan’s budget deficit is expected to reach about USD 3 billion by the end of 2012.
The demonstrators also demanded sweeping reforms and an end to corruption.
They also saluted Egypt’s president-elect Mohamed Morsi on the eve of his swearing-in as the country’s first democratically elected civilian president.
"Thousands of greetings for Morsi, son of the brothers," they chanted. "Congratulations to Egypt. The revolt has won," read one banner.
Similar demonstrations were also held in the northern city of Irbid, as well as Karak, Tafileh and Maan in the south.
Jordanians have been holding street protests demanding political reforms, including the election of the prime minister by popular vote, and an end to corruption since January 2011. Anti-government protests have intensified in recent weeks after the government increased commodity prices to offset a $3-billion (2.4-billion euro) deficit in this year’s USD 9.6-billion budget.
