The rallies also called for the abrogation of the peace treaty which Jordan concluded with Israel in 1994 and adopting a clear strategy for fighting corruption.

Hundreds of activists, who mainly belonged to the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and six other opposition parties, staged a protest in front of the premier’s office in Amman to protest the Bakhit government’s “failure” to carry out the reforms promised by King Abdallah.

They considered the resignation of Minister of State for Media Affairs Taher Adwan on Wednesday over the stumbling reforms as indicative of the government’s “unwillingness” to push ahead with the reform process.

Adwan said that he had resigned to protest the government’s introduction to parliament of draft laws he deemed restrictive for the press and public freedoms.

One of the slogans raised considered the peace pact with Israel as a “scandal”.

Hundreds of Jordanians also demonstrated after Friday prayers in Tafileh, 180 kilometres south of Amman, and in Karak, 120 km south of the capital.

Participants raised placards and chanted slogans expressing their determination “to oust this government which has no intention to perform reforms” and to ensure punishment for corrupts and “those have looted the country’s wealth”.

They also refused peace with Israel, saying it was nothing more than “a waste of time”.

Scores of hard-liners demonstrated in the city of Maan, 210 km south of Amman, demanding the departure of the government and the release of their jailed relatives who were not pardoned under the general amnesty that was decreed by King Abdallah earlier this month, witnesses said.