Interior minister dropped in Jordan cabinet reshuffle

Amman: A top government official says Jordan's prime minister is reshuffling his Cabinet.

The official says seven Cabinet members will go as part of Saturday's reshuffle of the 27-member government. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to release the information before an official announcement is made.

The reshuffle follows earlier resignations of three Cabinet members, two of whom stepped down in the wake of a public outcry over a convicted tycoon's abrupt departure from the country.

The most significant official to go is Interior Minister Sa'ad Hayel Srour. He was widely criticised for allowing businessman Khaled Shaheen, who was serving a three-year prison term for bribery and corruption, to leave Jordan.