King names liberal leader Premier

AMMAN, JUNE 18. Jordan's king Abdullah today dismissed the conservative Prime Minister, Mr. Abdul-Raouf al-Rawabdeh, and replaced him with a liberal leaning politician with strong business credentials, officials said.

The monarch asked Mr. Ali Abu al-Ragheb, a prominent member of Parliament and former Minister, to take over from Mr. Rawabdeh in the first government change since he succeeded his father, King Hussein, early last year.

Mr. Ragheb and his new Cabinet, which will include three Deputy Premiers, are expected to take the oath of office in front of the monarch at the royal palace within the next 24 hours, officials said.

Mr. Rawabdeh's 15-month-old Cabinet has been accused by liberal and conservative politicians of nepotism in appointments to senior jobs in the coveted civil service and of graft and abuse of public funds.

In April, more than 50 Members of Parliament criticised Mr. Rawabdeh's handling of domestic affairs in an unprecedented letter to the monarch.

Businessmen and officials said Mr. Ali Abu al-Ragheb was expected to be given a mandate to accelerate the IMF-backed reforms.

Mr. Abu al-Ragheb is a member of a consultative economic council chaired by the monarch that includes captains of industry.

The council has prodded the Government since its formation last year to speed up reforms against resistance by an entrenched bureaucracy, which many blame on Mr. Rawabdeh.

Politicians say the rift has widened between a westernised and business-minded young monarch and a parochial politician bent on preserving the status quo on the pretext that reforms carry a high social cost.

Mr. Rawabdeh, veteran politician, has grudgingly and with the king's prodding pushed forward the IMF-supported reforms needed to prop up the aid reliant kingdom, diplomats say.

Abu Ragheb will submit to the king tomorrow the make-up of the new Government, which will comprise between 27 and 29 Ministers,'' one of those expected to feature on the list said.

Sources said the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Tourism, Trade and Industry in the outgoing government would keep their seats in the new administration.

A member of the outgoing government said earlier, ``Rawabdeh presented his resignation to King Abdullah II, who accepted it.''

Mr. Rawabdeh was the first Prime Minister appointed by Mr. Abdullah following his ascent to the throne in February, 1999.

Since it formed last year, Mr. Rawabdeh's government has been the target of criticism and has seen the resignation of three Cabinet members, the latest being the Deputy Prime Minister and Planning Minister, Mr. Rima Khalef who quit in February.

- Reuters, AFP

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