Kuwait's new emir accepts Cabinet's resignation

Kuwait’s Cabinet resigned as expected today, one day after the new emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, was sworn in as the leader of this oil-rich US ally.

The emir – who had been prime minister – accepted the resignations and asked the government to stay on in a caretaker role until a new Cabinet is formed, the state television reported.

“It is my honour to submit to your highness my resignation and the resignation of my colleagues, hoping you would accept them,” said the letter submitted by Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Nawwaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah.

Sheikh Nawwaf said he believed the “duties of the Cabinet” ended when Sheikh Sabah took the oath of office yesterday.

Parliament confirmed 76-year-old Sheikh Sabah as emir in an unanimous vote. He took the oath of office the same day, ending an unprecedented leadership struggle within the ruling Al Sabah family that had assumed crisis proportions after Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah died on January 15, leaving an ailing crown prince as his successor.

Sheikh Sabah has not yet named a new prime minister or a crown prince.

It remains to be seen if he will keep the two jobs separate, or return to the Kuwaiti tradition of assigning both jobs to the same man.

Sheikh Sabah is scheduled to address the nation tonight.