King Abdullah of Jordan has dismissed his cabinet and appointed a new Prime Minister amid large street protests. New Prime Miniter Marouf Bakhit has been charged with carrying out true political reforms, but the Islamist opposition rejected the appointment. The protesters had demanded action on unemployment and rising prices and the right to elect the Prime Minister. They blamed former Prime Minister Samir Rifai for the country's economic problems and had called on him to stand down. The palace said the king had accepted Mr Rifai's resignation yesterday. The move is being seen as an attempt to head off further trouble from angry Jordanians, in the wake of the unrest in Tunisia and Egypt.