Jordan's PM survives impeachment vote

Amman, Jordan: Jordan's prime minister has survived an impeachment vote after parliament cleared him of involvement in a casino scandal during his previous stint as premier.

Marouf Al Bakhit's served as prime minister from 2005 to 2007, during which time his Cabinet approved the country's first casino, in violation of Islamic law.

This week, a parliamentary committee investigating the affair said unnamed former Cabinet officials, not Al Bakhit, were responsible for short-listing a Palestinian tycoon, apparently in return for financial gains.

The committee accused Al Bakhit of having "moral and legal" responsibility for the case, but did not implicate him.

On Monday, 50 lawmakers voted to impeach Al Bakhit, far short of the 80 votes needed for the measure to pass.