Kuwait's cabinet set on Monday parliament elections for May 16, after the ruler dissolved the assembly last month to end a long-running standoff with the OPEC producer's government.

"The cabinet approved a draft decree to elect members of parliament on Saturday May 16," state news agency KUNA cited Cabinet Affairs Minister of State Faisal al-Hajji as saying.

The decree still has to be approved by the ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who has the last say in the Gulf Arab state. He had called elections after parliament dissolution last month but did not say when the polls will be held.

The second dissolution in a year came days after the cabinet resigned to avoid a move by Islamist lawmakers to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir and senior member of the ruling family.

The move allowed the government to pass a $5 billion economic rescue plan by decree after it was delayed in the standoff with parliament.

Traditionally a new government is appointed after elections. Kuwait's ruler has not revealed his plans for the premiership.


Reuters

Güncelleme Tarihi: 13 Nisan 2009, 15:51