Bread price protests resume as king's charisma fails to work

DEMONSTRATIONS resumed yesterday in the southern Jordanian town of Kerak. Last Friday and Saturday several thousand people rioted there to protest at the doubling of the price of bread.

In both Kerak and Salt, the largest town between Amman and the Jordan river, a few hundred people took to the streets following the Friday noon prayer. They were quickly dispersed by security forces, which were deployed in strength throughout the country.

Serious trouble was averted in the centre of Amman, the capital, when on Thursday a mass rally organised by the Islamic Action Front was cancel led under pressure from the government.

Last week's bread riots, the most serious disturbances in the kingdom since protests broke out in 1989 over a rise in the price of fuel, have shaken the Jordanian political establishment. It attempted to blame the troubles on Iraqi agitators.

But not believing his own accusations, throughout the week King Hussein toured the affected towns in an effort to re establish his charisma.

Yesterday's demonstrations showed his efforts have not worked. The general demand remains the resignation of the government and the restoration of the subsidy.

By standing by the Prime Minister, Mr Abdel Karim Kabariti, the king has become the target of critics. A particular grievance is his unpopular peace treaty with Israel. The promised "peace dividend" which was to follow from an infusion of foreign aid and investment did not materialise.

Resentment was heightened during the week by calls on the king by both the International Monetary Fund, which was behind the price rise, and Israel to stand firm.

The doubling of the price of bread was for most Jordanians the last straw. Prices of local produce and manufactured goods have risen steeply in the past year.

All Jordanians except the wealthy elite are squeezed, while the rich continue to build palaces on the Ahdun acropolis and import a vast variety of costly goods. Resentment will simmer as long as conspicuous consumption flourishes.

Reuter adds: Jordan, which has blamed Iraq for the bread riots, has asked an Iraqi diplomat to leave.

Mr Adel Ibrahim, the Iraqi embassy's press attache, was asked to leave "because he was carrying out duties incompatible with diplomatic norms".