2 Jordanian ministers resign over flood disaster

By Laith al-Junidi

AMMAN

Two Jordanian ministers have resigned over floods that struck the country’s Dead Sea region last month.

In a decree, King Abdullah II accepted the resignations of Tourism Minister Lena Annab and Education Minister Azmi Mahafzeh, according to a statement issued by the Jordanian Royal Court on Sunday.

In another decree, the Jordanian monarch appointed Justice Minister Bassam Samir Talhouni as acting education minister and Minister of State Majd Shwekeh as acting tourism minister.

The resignation of the two ministers came as a result of popular and parliamentary pressure on the government after the floods disaster, which killed at least 21 people and injured dozens.

Most of those killed in the floods were students and teachers whose bus was swept away by during a school trip.

Late last month, the Jordanian government admitted responsibility for failure to deal with the flash floods.