Jordan government quits, king appoints new PM

AMMAN, April 5 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah asked academic Adnan Badran on Tuesday to form a new cabinet to push forward reforms after the government quit amid criticism of its performance, officials said.

They said the monarch accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez -- a former palace aide and tribal leader -- and asked Badran, 69, a member of a prominent family with a track record as an able administrator to take his place.

Palace officials said the king, a U.S. ally, told Badran in a letter he wanted to "accelerate the pace of reform".

He added that "reforms are coming despite the doubters and those who procrastinate".

Fayez was dismissed after mounting criticism by parliamentarians and senior officials over government mismanagement since it took office in October 2003.

Democracy appears to be busting out all over.