AMMAN – Overnight demonstrations over fuel price hikes in Jordan may have spiraled into a nation-wide revolt against the country’s regime Wednesday, according to various activist sources.

Rioting broke out in several cities and various key routes were reported to have been blocked by protesters, after Jordanian prime minister Abdullah Nsur announced a 53 percent increase in household cost of gas and a 12 percent rise in petrol prices. The government had cut fuel subsidies in a move to secure a $2 billion IMF loan. 

Security forces used tear gas and water jets, and forceful disbanding in some areas, to disperse protesters. In some of the demonstrations, people were heard chanting: “the people demand the fall of the regime.” The chant is a rhetorical hallmark of the so-called Arab Spring, which was widely seen to have sidestepped Jordan.

Protesters also targeted King Abdullah II, saying “Freedom is from God, in spite of you, Abdullah.” Criticisms of the king are strictly prohibited in Jordan and are punishable by up to three years in prison.

Demonstrators dubbed the protests “Habbit Tishreen” or the November Gust after Jordan’s February 1989 uprising which was also sparked by a rise in commodity prices and led to the first parliamentary elections since the Arab-Israeli war of 1967.

Demands for the fall of Jordan’s regime, headed by pro-Western monarch King Abdullah II, mark a decisive shift from previous

Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a demonstration following an announcement that Jordan would raise fuel prices, including a hike on cooking gas, in Amman November 15, 2012.

 demonstrations in-state, when demands were predominantly for government reform. It saw the appearance of the #RevoltJO(rdan) twitter hashtag in activist tweets; however, the monarchy-friendly #ReformJO hashtag continued to be more visibly used among activists. Massive strikes were also held by teachers and trade unions while youth groups and political parties held demonstrations in the capital and other cities. 

Abdullah has fired more than four prime ministers in the last two years in what was seen as pre-emptive action against an Arab Spring in the country.

Several protests led by Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood have been held to call for change in the country, and have drawn support from Arab nationalists, Marxist, and youth opposition groups.

The Brotherhood has said it would boycott early parliamentary elections that Abdullah called for in October.