Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Jordan’s king orders immediate measures to ease economic burden | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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AMMAN, Jordan (AP)- Jordan’s king has ordered his government to take immediate steps to ease the country’s economic burden as global food prices rise.

King Abdullah II said late Monday that basic goods should be available at the lowest possible prices, but there were no details on his proposed measures. The appeal was reported by the official Petra news agency.

It’s believed that concern over deadly riots caused by joblessness and poor prospects for youths in Algeria and Tunisia might have helped spur the call.

Jordan has been tackling a record budget deficit of $2.1 billion, high unemployment and poverty among its 6 million people, the majority of whom are under the age of 25.