Jordan rejects constitutional monarchy
Thousands of Jordanians have taken to the streets of the capital, Amman, after Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit rejected calls for a constitutional monarchy. Inspired by the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, Jordanians have been holding protest rallies for the past two months, demanding political reforms, including a constitutional monarchy. Protesters want King Abdullah to relinquish some of his powers, including the right to appoint prime ministers. On Thursday, Bakhit told lawmakers that the constitutional monarchy would unbalance Jordan's political system and violate the constitution.