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Kuwait PM forms new cabinet with key posts unchanged
KUWAIT CITY - Kuwaits prime minister on Friday announced a new 16-member cabinet with no changes to key posts in the cabinet which resigned in March after a dispute with the former parliament. The emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, approved the lineup presented by Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, state television said.Besides the prime minister, the new cabinet includes five members of the Al-Sabah ruling family, one more than the previous cabinet. They continue to hold the key posts of defence, interior, foreign affairs, oil and information. The cabinet also saw the return of former energy minister Sheikh Ahmad Fahad al-Sabah, who was appointed as deputy premier for economic affairs and minister for housing and development. Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Sabah kept his post in the oil-rich emirate and was given the information portfolio in addition. Finance Minister Mustafa al-Shamali also kept his post. Ahmad al-Haroun, a former top official at Kuwaits Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was appointed commerce and industry minister. Womens representation was reduced to one from two in the previous cabinet. Mudhi al-Humoud was moved from housing to education and higher education, while Nuriya al-Sabeeh was dropped. The cabinet includes seven new faces. The previous cabinet resigned in March following a showdown with parliament after five Islamist MPs filed to question the prime minister in parliament. Its formation comes after a May 16 general election in which four women were elected for the first time and the number of Islamist deputies was cut by half. The new cabinet has only one Islamist minister. Posted by: Steve White 2009-05-30 |
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