Posted on 01/24/2006 12:22:14 PM PST by knighthawk
Kuwait's National Assembly (parliament) on Tuesday voted unanimously for relieving the Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah from leadership for health reasons, and declared the vacancy of the position in line with article No. 3 of the law for the succession of leadership in the country.
According to Kuna, National Assembly Speaker Jasem Al-Kharafi said that "the Assembly established without any doubt based on the medical report" that Sheikh Saad was incapable of performing his duties for health reasons. He explained that all 65 MPs and Cabinet members present at the session approved the vacating of the position of Amir and transferring Amiri prerogatives to the Prime Minister in line with constitutional procedures, and until a new Amir is named.
Later, the Kuwaiti cabinet Tuesday named Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the next Amir, according to Justice Minister Ahmad Baqer. Baqer told KUNA the government, which met after a special parliamentary session, reviewed the "constitutional articles, namely article four of the constitution, and articles three and four of the law for the succession of leadership in the Emirate."
Earlier, Sheikh Saad stepped down late Monday from his post as head of state due to his failing health.
Health of the 76-year old emir was at the center of a battle amongst the two branches of Kuwait's royal family.
Sheikh Saad had been suffering from colon cancer, and though he insisted that his health condition would not impair his ability to rule Kuwait, he had been seen in a wheelchair and his lucidity was in question by some.
He agreed to abdicate his post on Monday night after family elders urged him to.
The previous emir, Sheikh Jaber Al Sabah, died on January 15, sparking a struggle between Kuwait's two royal branches, the Jaber and Sabah families.
An unofficial agreement in Kuwait dictates that rule over the country alternates between the two families. Many see the struggle as an attempt to concentrate power in the Sabah family.
Muhammad Al Jasem, former editor of Al Watan, told reporters, "Everyone knows that that there's an old rivalry between Sheik Sabah and Sheik Saad; what you see is an outgrowth of that."
The crisis has caused an uproar throughout the country, with Kuwait's stock market tumbling on Saturday.
A Kuwaiti 'around-the-horn.
If he's not feeling well, he should take an Al-KaSeltzer.
Ping
interesting semi-elected constitutional monarchy
I remember that opponents of the first Gulf War used to complain about Kuwait not being free.
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