Kuwaiti emir accepts government resignation

The emir of Kuwait accepted late on Monday the resignation request that the government submitted to him earlier in the day to avert a questioning of the prime minister in parliament amid a protracted political crisis.

MP Nasser al-Duwailah told reporters early on Monday that the government submitted its formal resignation request to the emir (ruler) and that “it's up to (him) to decide." Deputy Abdul-Latif al-Amiri and an MP who declined to be identified said the same.

Parliamentary Speaker Jassim al-Kharifi said he had not been informed yet of any resignation of the cabinet "until this moment."

Al Arabiya TV earlier said that there were "reports" of a cabinet resignation while private Kuwaiti channel al-Rai said the cabinet, which was due to meet on Monday, had sent a so-called letter of "non-cooperation" to Kuwait's ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

In cases of government resignation, the emir, who has the last say in politics can either accept the request and appoint a new prime minister to form a new cabinet or dissolve parliament.

Earlier this month several lawmakers submitted a request to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah, pushing to crisis point a long-running dispute between parliament and the government.

A similar move had led to the resignation of the cabinet in November but the ruler reappointed his nephew as prime minister.

Earlier this month several lawmakers submitted a request to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah, pushing to crisis point a long-running dispute between parliament and the government.

A similar move had led to the resignation of the cabinet in November but the ruler reappointed his nephew as prime minister.