Jordan's king dissolves parliament, calls for elections

Amman, Jordan: Jordan's king has dissolved parliament and called for early elections.

The 110-seat parliament has been widely criticised by those who say it has failed to pass laws considered crucial to Jordan's economic and political progress.

But some lawmakers accuse the government of ousting the legislature so it can pass emergency bills in parliament's absence, like a long awaited electoral law that they say is aimed at undercutting the influence of the opposition.

King Abdullah II said on Monday that parliament would be abolished as of Tuesday. He did not specify a date for elections.