Kuwaiti Deputy Premier Quits Cabinet

Kuwait's deputy premier, Sheikh Ahmed Fahad al-Sabah, a senior member of the ruling family, has submitted his resignation from the cabinet, a minister said on Monday.

"Sheikh Ahmed has submitted his resignation and the cabinet referred it to the ruler," state minister for cabinet affairs and government spokesman Ali al-Rashed told reporters.

No reason was given for Sheikh Ahmed's decision to quit but local media have said he was locked in a power struggle with Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Sabah, another senior royal.

During a parliamentary session on May 31, MPs said to be close to the prime minister voted against a request by Sheikh Ahmad to refer a grilling against him to a parliamentary panel to probe whether it breached the constitution.

The panel ruled on Saturday that the grilling, which accuses Sheikh Ahmed of corruption and mismanagement, was in line with the constitution and should be debated in parliament on Tuesday.

The resignation becomes official only if the emir accepts it.

The prime minister and Sheikh Ahmed, who is also minister of housing and development, are cousins and nephews of the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah.

Analysts and MPs have pinned the blame for the constant political crises in Kuwait on infighting within the al-Sabah family which has ruled the Gulf state for more than 250 years.