Jordan put an imminent increase in gasoline prices on hold on Friday, state media said, after public anger about tax hikes recommended by the IMF spilled into the streets this week. State news agency Petra quoted Prime Minister Hani Mulki as saying 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.
A government committee reviews gasoline prices each month in accordance with global market fluctuations after scrapping fuel subsidies in 2012. It raised gasoline prices last month but the June increase would have been bigger.