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Jordan Protesters Demand PM's Ouster


Protesters calling themselves the "Youth of March 24 Movement" demonstrate to demand for political reform and the ouster of the prime minister in front of police water canons at a main square in Amman, March 25, 2011
Protesters calling themselves the "Youth of March 24 Movement" demonstrate to demand for political reform and the ouster of the prime minister in front of police water canons at a main square in Amman, March 25, 2011

Jordan's Islamist opposition and other protest groups called for Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit's ouster Saturday, a day after the death of an activist during violent demonstrations.

Some opposition activists are blaming Mr. Bakhit's government for the protester's death. He was killed as Jordanian police used water cannon to disperse government loyalists and demonstrators attacking each other with stones in the capital, Amman.

There are conflicting reports as to how the activist died, but his family said he had been beaten by security forces.

Jordan's Islamic Action Front, the political branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, demanded the government's immediate resignation, saying any government that kills its own people has lost its legitimacy.

Friday's clashes erupted after several hundred supporters of King Abdullah began hurling rocks at a larger group of opposition protesters.

Prime Minister Bakhit blamed the unrest on the Muslim Brotherhood, whom he accuses of taking orders from Islamic groups in Egypt and Syria.

Earlier this month, several hundred Jordanians rallied for sweeping economic and political reforms.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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