The king called for elections, but did not name a date.

The step was expected because government officials and allied lawmakers had accused the 110-seat parliament of failing to deliver on legislation designed to address key economic issues like high unemployment and poverty since it was elected in 2007.

Some opposition lawmakers, however, accused the government of ousting parliament so it could pass legislation itself, which it is allowed to do under emergency laws that go into effect in the absence of a legislature.

One of the pieces of legislation the government had pushed unsuccessfully in parliament is an elections law that the Muslim Brotherhood opposition movement says would undercut its influence.

Faced with opposition, the government withdrew the law from consideration, leading critics to speculate that the government was worried it would be rejected and now aims to pass it under its emergency powers.

"Clearly the government wants things its own way," said Hamza Mansour, a lawmaker whose Islamic Action Front is the political arm of the Brotherhood and holds six seats in parliament.

In a royal decree read by a broadcaster on the state television, Abdullah said parliament would be abolished as of Tuesday. The next elections were not due until November 2011.

Under the constitution, the government must hold elections within four months or the old parliament would automatically reconvene with its full powers.

Jordan's legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, has significant powers, unlike other rubber-stamp parliaments in the Middle East. It can dismiss prime ministers and Cabinets appointed by the king and veto government legislation.