Kuwait formed a new cabinet on Tuesday, state television reported, after a snap parliamentary election in the oil-exporting Gulf Arab state earlier this month in which opposition candidates won a solid majority.

The former head of Kuwait's state petroleum corporation (KPC), Hani Hussein, was appointed oil minister, while former military chief of staff Sheikh Ahmed al-Khaled al-Sabah was given the post of defence minister.

Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmed al-Hamoud al-Sabah held onto his portfolio, as did Finance Minister Mustapha al-Shamali.

Reuters