Jordan’s King Abdullah has ordered a freeze on planned fuel price increases, after Jordanians took to the streets in protest after prices were increased on 1 September.

As part of recommendations by the Washington-headquartered IMF, the Jordanian government increased the price of low-grade gasoline by 10 per cent. The fuel price hike resulted in protests in both Amman, Jordan’s capital city, and in the cities of Irbid, Maan and Karak.

 The price increase in fuel was the second this year, after the government raised the price of low grade gasoline by 12.9 per cent in June.

The IMF recently approved a multibillion-dollar loan to Jordan, as the country looks to reduce the fiscal and stave off internal unrest.

Jordan will receive an immediate cash loan of $385m and about $2bn in total over the next three years. Jordan’s economy has been put under increased pressure as thousands of refugees have entered the country from neighbouring Syria.