Jordan's King Abdullah reappointed Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Saturday after canvassing members of a new parliament elected in January, an official said.

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

King Abdullah previously hand-picked his prime ministers without consulting parliament. Ensour, a U.S.-French educated economist who is not tainted with corruption allegations, was nominated by the majority of parliamentarians.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi)