Jordan's King Abdullah II will make a decision next month on when to hold parliamentary elections, already postponed twice, Prime Minister Ali Abul-Ragheb said in remarks published Thursday.
The polls were delayed at least twice since the king dissolved the 80-seat parliament in June 2001, when its four-year mandate expired. Under the constitution, the monarch can postpone elections for up to two years.
According to AP, officials say in private the government fears anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans during campaigning may inflame public sentiments already tense over Israeli actions against the Palestinians and a possible U.S. military strike against Iraq.
"Elections date hasn't been set and no decision has yet been taken," Abul-Ragheb told state television in an interview marking his third year in office.
King Abdullah "will decide on this issue at the beginning of August ... there's a possibility for a little delay," he added in the interview, broadcast late Wednesday and published in Jordan's four daily newspapers on Thursday.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah left Abu Dhabi Thursday, following a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates. During his visit, the Monarch held talks with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, where the two sides discussed relations between the two countries and means of further promoting joint cooperation, according to Emirates News Agency.
The meeting also reviewed latest developments in the Palestinian territories and efforts exerted to achieve Israeli withdrawal from these lands, as well as, ending the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
