Jordan to hold multi-party poll

Amman (Reuter) - King Hussein has ordered Jordan to hold its first multi-party general elections since 1956 later this year, the official news agency Petra said yesterday. A royal decree did not set a date for the elections or say if they would be held on the basis of existing election law. Government sources said the elections were expected to be held on 8 or 10 November. Nineteen political parties are expected to contest the elections. Jordan lifted a ban on political parties, imposed in 1957, last October.