King opens parliament, pledges to make Jordan democratic model

AMMAN (AFP) — Jordan's King Abdullah II pledged to make his country a democratic model for Arab nations, stressing his commitment to change and development, as he opened the new session of parliament.

"The huge challenges that confront the Arab nation, call upon us to revise a lot of our positions," the king told deputies, senators, cabinet ministers, diplomats and scores of invited guests.

"We are firmly committed to change and development, to take initiative unwaveringly, whatever the difficulties," the king said Monday, dressed in full regal attire at the ceremony carried live on state television.

Jordan should be "a model of a democratic Arab Islamic State, based on justice, under the sovereignty of the law, political pluralism and respect of citizen's rights," he added.

The ceremony marked the first ordinary session of both houses of parliament following June 17 legislative elections for the 110-seat lower house and November's ...