Al Jaz:
Kuwait cabinet resigns amid political crisis
Kuwait's cabinet has resigned after protesters and opposition deputies demanded that the prime minister step down over allegations of corruption, state-run television has reported.
"The prime minister [Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah] has submitted his resignation to the emir," Kuwait TV said, without specifying whether it had been accepted.
Earlier, opposition member Khaled al-Sultan said the cabinets's resignation was accepted amid a bitter political dispute between the prime minister and opposition MPs.
"We are waiting for the appointment of a new prime minister before parliament is dissolved in order to be assured of fair elections," the Sultan told reporters outside parliament.
Parliament speaker Jassem al-Khorafi said he had not been informed about a dissolution of parliament.
If it is confirmed that Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait, has accepted the resignations, he may then also dissolve parliament before setting a date for new elections.
Several opposition MPs welcomed the resignation.
"I hope that the emir will please the Kuwaiti people by dissolving parliament ... and forming a transitional cabinet to supervise the elections," opposition MP Falah al-Sawwagh told reporters.
Multiple resignations
The announcement of the resignations came after the emir chaired an emergency meeting of the cabinet headed by the prime minister to discuss the political crisis.
Sheikh Nasser, 71, had been due to be questioned in parliament by three opposition MPs on allegations of fraud, including charges that he transferred public funds into his overseas accounts.
The government has denied the charges.
The move also came ahead of a planned mass rally later on Monday by the opposition to press demands for the premier's ousting.
Sheikh Nasser, a nephew of the emir, was appointed to the post in February 2006 and has since now resigned seven times because of political turmoil.
Parliament has been dissolved three times over the same period.
Unprecedented probe
The public prosecutor in September launched an unprecedented probe into the bank accounts of around 15 pro-government MPs who were accused of accepting bribes totalling $350m.
Opposition MPs have claimed the deposits were bribes by the government to win votes on crucial issues.
Some of the concerned MPs have denied any wrongdoing.
Nahaj, an alliance of opposition groups and youth organisations, insisted in a statement that the prime minister be replaced and parliament dissolved.
They also called for opposition detainees to be released. Twenty-four opposition activists are serving a three-week detention pending trial after parliament was stormed on November 16.
Kuwait, which sits on about 10 percent of global crude oil, has amassed more than $300 billion in surpluses over the past decade, but projects and development have been stalled by political wrangling.
-
Yahoo: Hundreds of Jordanians set up protest in capital By JAMAL HALABY, Associated Press AMMAN, Jordan – Hundreds of Jordanians set up a protest camp in a main square in the capital on Thursday to press demands for the ouster of the prime minister...
-
Reuters: Kuwait protesters swell in number, call for PM change Tue Mar 8, 2011 6:38pm GMT By Eman Goma and Jason Benham KUWAIT (Reuters) - Several hundred Kuwaitis demonstrated on Tuesday evening for a change of the Gulf state's prime minister and...
- . .
Haaretz: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood eyes unity gov't without Mubarak Opposition group says will exclude reigning President's National Democratic Party from talks; Mohammed ElBaradei: I have been mandated by the people. The Muslim Brotherhood,...
- Iran Blast Continues....more From Bill Gertz...
Iran-backed Shi'ite majority battles for control of parliament in Bahrain, host to U.S. Fifth Fleet King Hamad faces a Shi'ite majority, under the increasing influence of Iran, which is preparing to take control of parliament over the next week....
- Military Coup In Thailand?
It looks like a military coup might be underway in Thailand. According to CTV: Thailand’s prime minister has declared a “severe” state of emergency after rumours of a military coup swept the capital and tanks reportedly took position outside government...