Kuwait emir asks outgoing premier to form new government

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Monday asked the outgoing prime minister to form a new government following polls, the official KUNA news agency reported. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah, a senior member of the ruling Al-Sabah family, submitted the resignation of his eight-month-old cabinet on Sunday, as required by the constitution after weekend polls. The premier should form the cabinet before August 6 when the new parliament is due to hold its opening session. Sheikh Jaber, 70, was first appointed premier in November 2011 to replace Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir who had quit following allegations of corruption. The new cabinet will be Sheikh Jaber's fifth government and the 12th to emerge in the oil-rich state since 2006 due to continued disputes that also saw parliament being dissolved six times. KUNA said the emir issued a decree reappointing Sheikh Jaber after consultations with former premiers and parliament speakers that excluded veteran opposition figure and three-time former speaker Ahmad al-Saadun. Saadun and several opposition groups have boycotted Saturday's election for the second time in protest against an amended electoral, even though the constitutional court confirmed the change in June. The Shiite minority lost nine seats and was reduced to eight members in Kuwait's second polls in under eight months while liberals and moderate Sunni Islamists and tribal figures made gains in the 50-seat parliament. Radical Shiite and Sunni Islamists were dealt a heavy blow in the election, with at least two Shiite and two Sunni radical members failing to hold onto their seats. Only two women were elected compared to three in the previous parliament. Analysts expect the new parliament to have improved ties with the government.