July 13, 2012 - 4:29 AM
AMMAN, Jordan - A spokesman for Jordan's powerful Muslim Brotherhood says his group will boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections in protest over recent changes in the kingdom's election legislation.
A boycott would be a blow to King Abdullah, who has made reforms the centrepiece of his campaign to stave off Arab Spring-like protests in Jordan.
Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu-Bakr said today that the movement — Jordan's largest opposition group — may reverse its decision if the government "makes serious and real efforts toward reforms."
The elections are expected at the end of the year.
The main dispute is over a new election law, which allows each voter two separate ballots — one for representatives from local districts in this traditionally tribal society, the other for one of 27 candidates on a national list.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012