Jordan: New Cabinet, Premier Khasawneh sworn in

By Laith al-Jounaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) – Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and his Cabinet members were sworn in on Monday before King Abdullah II.

Khasawneh's Cabinet has 32 ministers, among them eight kept over from the previous government of Omar Razzaz, including the key foreign minister and finance minister posts.

Unlike the Razzaz government, three of the new Cabinet ministers also serve as deputy premiers, including Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi, Local Administration Minister Tawfiq Kreishan, and Economic Affairs Minister Umayya Toukan.

Khasawneh was appointed prime minister last Wednesday following the resignation of the Razzaz government after the country's monarch dissolved parliament.

Khasawneh is the 13th prime minister in the reign of Abdullah II since he became king in 1999.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara