Regional News :Kuwaiti Protesters Storm Parliament, Country ...

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Kuwaiti Protesters Storm Parliament, Country Races Crisis

Local Editor

Kuwaiti leaders held crisis talks Thursday after protesters demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, a key member of the ruling Al-Sabah family, stormed parliament in a sharp escalation of tension.

Local media said the council of ministers began an emergency meeting chaired by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who holds extensive powers to dissolve parliament and sack the government.

In Kuwait, the ruler occasionally chairs governmental meetings.

Parliament also called off a scheduled session after the protesters' action late on
Wednesday left some damage in the sea-side building.

The demonstrators were accompanied by a number of opposition lawmakers who have been campaigning for the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah for the past several years.

The rally called by the opposition to protest against the government for allegedly breaching the constitution developed into clashes with police who used batons to disperse the crowd, wounding at least five.

Opposition MP Daifallah Buramia said in a statement that "the Opposition Bloc was also due to meet later Thursday to assess the situation."

It was the first political violence in the oil-rich Gulf state since December, when elite forces beat up protesters and MPs at a public rally.

Tension has been building in Kuwait over the past three months after it was alleged that about 16 MPs in the 50-member parliament received around $350 million (259 million euros) in bribes, apparently for their parliament votes.

The public prosecutor has opened an unprecedented investigation into the case after several local banks referred accounts held by MPs on suspicions of receiving huge illegal deposits.

On Wednesday, about 20 opposition lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary session a day after the government and its supporters rejected a bid by the opposition to quiz the prime minister over corruption allegations.

Kuwait is OPEC's third largest producer, pumping around 3.0 million barrels of oil per day. It has accumulated over $300 billion in assets but projects have been stalled because of political disputes.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org