Jordan's King Abdullah reappointed Abdullah Ensour as prime minister on Saturday after canvassing members of a new parliament elected in January, officials said.

The monarch's consultations with the new parliament follow constitutional changes that devolved some his powers to the assembly - a response to calls for reform prompted by recent uprisings across the Arab world.

King Abdullah previously handpicked his prime ministers without consulting parliament. Ensour, an economist educated in the US and France, who is not tainted with corruption allegations, was nominated by the majority of parliamentarians.

Reform-minded Ensour will hold consultations with parliamentary blocs in the 150-member assembly about the make-up of his new cabinet. Such open dialogue is in contrast to previous government formations in which parliament had no role. In the meantime, his existing cabinet will continue as a caretaker government.

The monarch commended Ensour in a letter of designation for his performance in five months in office, saying he was well-equipped to steer the country through regional and domestic turbulence.

"You have been selfless in putting the higher national interest above any consideration in facing these critical challenges that Jordan faces," the monarch wrote.

Jordan's crisis-hit economy has been strained by a flood of refugees from its northern neighbor Syria in civil war. The war has strangled cross-border trade and threatens to spark more turmoil across the already volatile Middle East.

In November, Ensour took the unpopular decision to raise fuel prices, sparking several days of civil unrest, mainly across rural and tribal areas.

He argued that a shift from broad subsidies towards targeted cash transfers to the poor would provide more effective support and was the only option to deal with a financial crisis that drove the country's deficit to over 12 percent of GDP.

Independent politicians have praised Ensour's willingness to take bold measures in the face of popular resistance.

Reuters