Jordan freezes gasoline price hike recommended by IMF after protests

Jordan put an imminent increase in gasoline prices on hold on Friday, after public protests this week over tax hikes recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister Hani Mulki said that on the orders of King Abdullah he had revoked the decision to raise gasoline prices, which had been due to go into effect just after midnight on Friday, state news agency Petra reported. Hundreds of protesters converged on the prime minister’s office late on Thursday night in the heart of Amman chanting anti-government slogans and calling on the government to resign.