The outgoing team is said to have disappointed the king

Officials said the new line-up would push forward an agenda of political and economic reforms in the kingdom.

The king is said to be unhappy over several issues, including the last team's performance at the Arab summit.

Most powers lie with the king, who appoints governments, approves new laws and is able to dissolve parliament.

Mr Badran is an academic who served previously as the minister of higher education. He was also head of a private university in Amman.

Officials said the king wanted new blood after the government of Faisal Fayez's perceived mishandling of a series of matters:

• The failure of a Jordanian peace initiative at the Arab summit
• A diplomatic row with Iraq after the Hilla bombing in February
• The resignation of Planning Minister Bassem Awadallah

Correspondents say Mr Awadallah - an enthusiast for King Abdullah's cautious reform programme - is tipped to become finance minister in the new cabinet.

Last month's Arab summit in Algiers rejected Jordan's proposal for peace negotiations with Israel without it relinquishing all the land it occupied in 1967.