BEIRUT — The dramatic political unrest in Egypt, long a pivotal nation in the Arab world, has intensified demands for change across the region and spurred attempts at reform by nations long ruled by autocrats.
On Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II fired his Cabinet and ordered his new prime minister to pursue political reforms to “correct the mistakes of the past” after demonstrations at home.
The toppling of an Arab dictator in Tunisia and the continuing popular revolt against Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak has inspired talk in Syria of staging anti-government protests against the reign of President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday.
The government of Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir in the Arab nation of Sudan has announced a “dialogue” with political parties following protests in the capital in recent days.
And political activists in Yemen, where huge protests broke out last week, have declared Thursday a “day of rage” against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, according to local media.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority said it would hold local elections, postponed last year, “as soon as possible.”
The political upheaval unleashed by the Jan. 14 ouster of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the ongoing struggle against Mubarak in Egypt is burning its way like a contagion through the Arab world, spread by electronic media and breathless reports on pan-Arab media that are accompanied by images of massive, emotional crowds.
“What’s happening in Egypt is going to reshape the region,” said Mohammad Masri of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan in Amman.
But a Jordanian analyst said the Cabinet change was unlikely to satisfy frustrated citizens.
“This is a cosmetic measure. The government itself does not initiate policies; it only implements them. So the Cabinet change does not mean anything,” said Labib Kamhawi, an economist and political analyst.
In Syria, supporters of Assad have taken to Facebook, setting up a page called “Salute President Bashar Assad.” Some have vowed to attend a separate gathering Saturday in support of the president.
The Syrian president retains support for some of his stances, including his opposition to American foreign policy and his support for groups that oppose Israel.
The New York Times contributed to this report.
