The king of Jordan dismissed his government Tuesday and appointed a new prime minister, a move follows protests calling for political reform.

King Abdullah II asked Marouf Al Bakhit to form a government that will implement “genuine political reform,” the Royal Court said in a statement.

The government will “take practical steps, quick and concrete, to launch a process of genuine political reform, comprehensive development, and take genuine steps towards strengthening democracy,” among other tasks, according to Al Bakhit’s letter of instruction, which was also released.

Last week, Islamists, leftists and union members marched in downtown Amman, demanding more significant economic and political reforms to help struggling citizens. Police estimated several thousand people gathered in the Jordanian capital for the event, although about half of them demonstrated. There were protests in six other cities as well, authorities said.

(Source: CNN)