AMMAN — Jordan's King Abdullah II designated a well known international judge as his prime minister Monday, a royal palace statement said, replacing a premier who ran afoul of reformers. Awn al-Khasawneh, 61, succeeds Marouf al-Bakhit, 64, who resigned earlier in the day after a majority of 70 out of 120 parliamentarians called for his ouster. Al-Bakhit was widely perceived as dragging his feet on a political reform package. He was also accused of corruption during his earlier 2005-2007 tenure as prime minister. He was the deputy chief of the Hague-based International Court of Justice. He also served as a chief adviser to Abdullah's late father, King Hussein. Al-Khasawneh has a reputation as a clean politician as well as a noted legal expert. His designation is expected to reinforce King Abdullah II's stated intentions of instituting reforms. There have been small but persistent weekly demonstrations in Amman for months by protesters demanding economic and political reforms. The king has expressed support, but little has been done. Al-Khasawneh is set to form his Cabinet ahead of a 3-day special meeting of the World Economic Forum, which opens in Jordan on Friday.
