Jordan- Offending King intolerable 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) The government will not tolerate any act that would offend His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh said on Friday.

Noting that the government will work with concerned bodies to ensure Jordan's security and stability and to protect peaceful protests, the premier said in an interview with Jordan Television's "Sixty Minutes" programme that any offences against the head of state and its symbol will not be tolerated.

"Such offences will be dealt with in pursuance of the Penal Code," he said.

Stressing that the government is responsible for its own decisions and policies, Tarawneh added that any problems regarding state decisions or policies should be referred to the government to be dealt with.

Commenting on the draft elections law endorsed by the Lower House last week and currently in the Senate, he said there is no ideal legislation, but that the government is seeking a law that can produce more representation.

Despite some protests against the draft law, he said, it was largely the outcome of consensus.

"It is high time that citizens feel that elections are a right and a duty at the same time," the premier underlined.

Responding to critics who say the law will not enhance the role of political parties, he argued that the 17-seat national proportional list included in the bill would do so, stressing that the upcoming elections will be free and fair.

With regard to the state budget, Tarawneh noted that many of the assumptions on which it was built had changed.

Describing the disruption of the Egyptian gas supplies to Jordan as a "nightmare", he said the government was establishing a terminal to facilitate the import of liquid gas to meet the country's needs, but acknowledged that this will take 14 to 15 months to complete.