AMMAN (AFP) -- Jordan on Saturday decided to hike the price of petrol, gas and home heating oil from between 12 and 43 percent in a bid to reduce the budget deficit, a government spokesman said.

The new increases, the third in less than a year, were announced after a cabinet meeting by spokesman Nasser Jawdeh, who said that electricity prices would not be affected.

The price of petrol is to increase by 12, 17.5 and 20 percent respectively depending on the fuel grade. Home heating oil is to jump by 43 percent. Cooking gas prices are to go up 14 percent and kerosene by 43 percent.

In response, Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition parties called for a partial strike lasting two hours on Sunday.

The Jordanian government says the increases are needed to protect the country's financial and monetary stability.

The price rise is the third this year and the fourth since 2003 when supplies were cut off with the outbreak of war in Iraq.