Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - King Abdullah II decided to postpone a visit to the United Kingdom that was due next week, informed sources said.

The sources told Ammon News that the decision came in light of the 'regional developments' especially the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The British Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that King Abdullah II has cancelled the scheduled visit next week, amid unprecedented protests by Jordanians.

The king had been expected to meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron next week to discuss Abu Qatada, the terror suspect released on bail in Britain on Tuesday after judges ruled that he should not be extradited to Jordan.

Britain has kept the preacher in custody for most of the last 10 years and has repeatedly tried to send him to Jordan, where was convicted in absentia in 1998 for involvement in terror attacks.

But British judges accepted his argument that evidence obtained by torture might be used against him in a retrial.

Meanwhile, Jordan witnessed major protests and violent riots last week in reaction to the government's decision to lift subsidies on oil derivatives, which caused a major hike in prices of gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and cooking gas.