AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's King Abdullah II appointed a new prime minister Thursday and urged him to launch an all-out war against Islamic militancy in the wake of the deadly triple hotel bombings earlier this month.
Abdullah also called for a new antiterrorism law to replace the current, general one that does not specify punishment for different terrorist acts and their perpetrators.
In a designation letter to Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit - who was named hours after his predecessor resigned - Abdullah said the Nov. 9 attacks "increase our determination to stick to our reform and democratization process, which is irreversible.
"At the same time, it reaffirms our need to adopt a comprehensive strategy to confront the Takfiri culture," Abdullah said, referring to the ideology adopted by al-Qaida and other Islamic militants who condone the killing of those they consider infidels.
Abdullah said the strategy should "not only deal with the security dimension, but also the ideological, cultural and political spheres to confront those who choose the path of destruction and sabotage to reach their goals."
The king called for a "relentless war on all the Takfiri schools, which embrace extremism, backwardness, isolation and darkness and are fed on the ignorance and naivete of simple people."
He said fatwas, or religious edicts, issued by such groups constitute a "threat on the society and its interests."
The appointment of a new premier came after Prime Minister Adnan Badran, 69, resigned earlier Thursday. A new Cabinet was likely to be named Sunday and would be sworn in the same day, a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
