<br /> <p>Anti-austerity protests continued for the sixth consecutive day in Amman on June 5, days after the resignation of Prime Minister Hani Mulki and a promise from King Abdullah of “dialogue” regarding an unpopular draft income tax law.</p><p>The Jordan Times cited</a> a state security official as saying 60 people had been arrested in the protests by Monday, June 4.</p><p>Public anger against austerity has grown since Jordan agreed a three-year arrangement with the IMF in 2016. A draft income tax law has been a lightning rod for discontent, and, according to the Jordan Times, the king said the new government would have “responsibility to clarify the draft law.” He called for “dialogue.”</p><p>King Abdullah pointed to regional unrest, disruption of gas supplies and difficulties in regional markets as reasons for the country’s economic woes, the Jordan Times said.</p><p>Jordan is currently host to some 700,000 Syrian refugees. Credit: Amman Now via Storyful</p><br />
