A veteran politician, Abdullah Ensour, is to become Jordan's next prime minister, according to a statement issued by the country's royal palace on Wednesday.

Shortly after Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh resigned on Wednesday, Jordan's monarch selected a new premier to head the country's interim government before the next parliamentary elections, due in early 2013.

"Tarawneh's resignation came in line with the recently introduced constitutional amendments stipulating that the government must resign following the dissolution of parliament," a senior palace official told the news agency AFP.

King Abdullah II, pictured above, dissolved parliament last Thursday so that new elections could take place.

Jordanians have demonstrated for political and economic reforms numerous times since January 2011.

kms/mz (Reuters, AP, dpa)