Jordan has largely averted violent protests that have seen longtime Arab leaders toppled in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen. But there have been sporadic protests by demonstrators demanding a loosening of the kingdom’s strong grip on power.

The king instructed the government to take “all necessary steps” to free the youth activists, the official Petra news agency reported.

Petra said among those included in the king’s announcement were people detained in the southern town of Tafileh and charged with possessing firearms, shooting at police and setting property on fire during protests. They were detained last month.

It said the decision followed a meeting between the king and Tafileh tribal leaders earlier in the day.

Talifeh has been a center of Jordan’s albeit small protest movement during the Arab Spring. It is an impoverished area with a large number of Islamist supporters.

Hours after the announcement, a Jordanian state security court released on bail 32 activists, according to a court statement obtained by The Associated Press. The discrepancy between the figures reported by Petra and the court statement was not immediately clear.

The court statement said nine others were still being held on charges of possession of explosive materials with the intent to harm lives and property.

During the meeting with Tafileh tribal elders, the king said he supported “an objective” protest movement that upholds the law and seeks change for a better future, Petra reported.

Abdullah also told the Tafileh leaders that more must be done to uproot corruption as demanded by activists.