Kuwaiti ministers submit resignation

Published March 17th, 2008 - 12:55 GMT

Kuwaiti ministers handed their resignation en masse to the emirate's prime minister on Monday, the official news agency KUNA said. The emir has faced recent calls to fire the government, appoint a new premier and hold early parliamentary polls.

 

"First deputy premier and defence minister and the rest of ministers have submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah," state minister for cabinet affairs Faisal al-Hajji said. In his letter to the Prime Minister, First Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber al Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said: "It was a great honor to be entrusted by His Highness the Amir to the ministerial posts in order to serve our dear homeland.


"However, we faced regrettable obstacles notably the tense relationship between the legislative and executive authorities, the deviation of the concept of parliamentary representation, the infringement on the national unity and the violation of guidelines outlined by the constitution and the internal statutes of the National Assembly.


"The MPs rebuffed the government call for cooperation and achievement of the aspirations of the citizens and tended to practices that could undermine our national unity and security."