BBC News - Mid-East: Will there be a domino effect? - Think Site EU

BBC News - Mid-East: Will there be a domino effect?
28/01/11 15:46
However, Libya has a much smaller population and huge oil wealth.
Jordan
Thousands staged protests across Jordan in a "day of rage" on Saturday in protest against
rising food prices and unemployment. Some demanded the resignation of Prime Minister
Samir Rifai.
The government had last week slashed prices on certain foods and fuels, but the
protesters say more needs to be done to tackle poverty caused by inflation.
But Jordan is run by a royal family, and some sections of society are loyal to the
monarchy. King Abdullah II, who acceded to the throne in 1999, himself appears so far to
have escaped most of the wrath of the protesters.
And so far protests have been peaceful and there have been no arrests.
Morocco
Like Tunisia, Morocco has been facing economic problems and allegations of corruption in
ruling circles.
Morocco's reputation was damaged after Wikileaks revealed allegations of increased
corruption, in particular the royal family's business affairs and the "appalling greed" of
people close to King Mohammed VI.
Wikileaks cables from the US embassy in Tunis have cited similar problems in President
Ben Ali's inner circle.
But Morocco, like Egypt and Algeria, does allow limited freedom of expression and has so
far been able to contain protests.
Like Jordan it is a monarchy with strong support among sections of the public.
Middle East social indicators
Country pop. (m) median age jobless (%)
below poverty
line (%)
Algeria 34.5 27.1 9.9 23 4.7
internet users
(m)
Egypt 80.5 24 9.6 20 20
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12204971
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