Jordan's King Abdullah II accepts resignation of prime minister

AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's prime minister, beset by popular outrage over tax increases and a raft of other austerity measures, tendered his resignation Monday and is expected to be replaced by a former World Bank economist.

Hani Mulki stepped down after a meeting with the country's sovereign, King Abdullah II, following days of rare protests, the country's biggest in years, that saw tens of thousands of people across Jordan calling for the government's downfall.

Abdullah, who has the power to disband Cabinets and appoint prime ministers, is reported to have asked Omar Razzaz, the country's education minister who was previously