AMMAN -- Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb has warned the country's labor unions to stay out of partisan politics and to concentrate on promoting the welfare of workers, an official said Friday. During a meeting with union leaders Thursday night, Abu Ragheb reminded them that "The laws on unions prohibit politicizing union activity or using unions to pursue political objectives."

He told them to "concentrate on the furtherance of union activity, which is their principal mission" and not get involved in non-labor issues, AFP reported.

His warning follows an order Tuesday by the security services prohibiting a demonstration at the headquarters of the Union Association called to promote a boycott of U.S. goods.

For his part, Union Association acting president Hashem Gharaybeh told journalists that Abu Ragheb had repeated during the Thursday meeting the government's objection to the pro-boycott demonstration. But pointing to "the right of Jordanians to freedom of speech," Gharaybeh said the unions "maintain their stance rejecting any normalization with Israel and calling for a boycott of American products."

The boycott is being sought as a protest over perceived U.S. bias toward Israel.

The union association groups 13 professional unions, representing a total of more than 100,000 members.

At least six of those unions are dominated by jordan's principal opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Jordan was the second Arab country after Egypt to sign a peace treaty with Israel, but there is widespread grassroots opposition to normalization of ties with the Jewish state.