News / News Bulletin

Protests continue in Amman following Jordan unions strike

Thursday, 07 June 2018 1:49 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 07 June 2018 2:18 AM ]

More than 1,000 Jordanians continued to protest against tax hikes near the prime minister's office in Amman on Wednesday, a day that also saw some unions pressing ahead with a strike.

Protesters waved Jordanian flags and chanted slogans such as: "We are free and are not afraid of death", in a rally that voiced anger over a draft law to raise income taxes and IMF-driven reforms.

A police officer told Reuters during the protest that a man had been taken into custody after he stabbed a policeman. Security forces appeared to detain some demonstrators and blocked protesters from reaching the prime minister's office.

Rallies in Amman and other cities snowballed after more than 30 unions, representing tens of thousands of public and private sector employees, first went on strike a week ago.

But many unions pulled out of Wednesday's walkout after the king appointed Omar al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, on Tuesday (May 5) to form a new government and urged talks over the law.

Harvard-educated Razzaz, education minister in the outgoing cabinet, replaces Hani Mulki and will now start consultations to form a new government.

(Source: Reuters)

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir

Jordan