Kuwait braces for PM ouster mass rally

Written by Dummy Two Published by:Shiite News

Published in Middle East

Tuesday, 08 March 2011

Kuwaiti youth groups plan to hit the streets on Tuesday to demand the removal of the incumbent prime minister and push for political reforms in the Persian Gulf state.

The anti-government protests aim to drive Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah out of office and add pressure for greater political freedom in the country, Reuters reported.

The protest organizers, the Kafi (Enough) and al-Soor al-Khames (Fifth Fence) groups, maintain that they will not budge on their demands for the departure of Sheikh Nasser, and have called for a premier from outside the ruling al-Sabah family.

"We will distribute watermelons to lawmakers as they enter the parliament on Tuesday, as a symbol of chaos and discontent with their performance," Mubarak Alhaza, a member of the Kafi youth movement said.

Tuesday's protests will present a challenge to the Kuwaiti government, which bans demonstrations without prior permission.

The demonstrations come on the crest of a recent tidal wave of anti-government protests that has raced across the Middle East, originating with revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, which have swept longstanding autocratic rulers from power.

The Kuwaiti premier, a nephew of the ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, was appointed in early 2006. He has fought parliamentary opposition since his appointment.

Five of his six cabinets have been forced to resign, while the parliament has been dissolved three times.

Tuesday's protests will present a challenge to the Kuwaiti government, which bans demonstrations without prior permission.

The Kuwaiti premier, a nephew of the ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, was appointed in early 2006. He has fought parliamentary opposition since his appointment.

Five of his six cabinets have been forced to resign, while the parliament has been dissolved three times.

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