The monarch made the remark during a meeting with the recently formed National Dialogue Committee (NDC) and it was apparently designed to stem widespread worries that followed the use of excessive force by the security authorities on Friday to quell a pro-democracy rally at Amman’s Nasser Square.

The incident prompted 16 members of the 53-member panel to resign over the use of force to disperse hundreds of protesters, calling themselves the “March 24 Youth.”

Authorities said one person was killed and more than 120 wounded, including 58 policemen.

The Interior Ministry also admitted that policemen had used force to end a clash between pro-democracy protesters and others who demonstrated to express loyalty for the king.

Opposition figures have suggested that the country be turned into a constitutional monarchy which implied curtailing the powers of the king, particularly his appointment of prime ministers and Cabinet ministers.

King Abdallah condemned the violence which the Nasser Square witnessed on Friday and led to a split in the street between native Jordanians and Jordanians descending from Palestinian origin, with negative repercussions on the country’s national unity.

But former Prime Minister Ahmad Obeidat suggested that the rally of protesters calling for reforms was quelled by “a cell” set up by the security authorities especially for foiling the reform process.

Obeidat, also a former intelligence chief, and more than 200 politicians and dignitaries issued a statement on Tuesday holding the government of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit responsible for the violent crackdown on protesters and describing the use of excessive force at Nasser Square as a crime.

“There is no contradiction between the reform, which is a target for all Jordanians, and the loyalty for the homeland,” the monarch said.

He urged the panel to conduct its work in a courageous and serious manner assuring them that he will “guarantee” the implementation of its recommendations.

The 16 members who quit attended the meeting amid reports that the king’s remarks could convince them to change their mind.

However, three Muslim Brotherhood members failed to show up after the group insisted on boycotting the panel’s meeting, demanding that the king be the “reference” for any reforms, not the prime minister.