(This is from the BBC Online.)

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Sunday, 28 January, 2001, 16:43 GMT

Kuwait Government resigns

Kuwait's Government has resigned after a long-running battle with parliament.

No formal explanation has been given, but the crisis follows an opposition MP's request to question Justice Minister Saad al-Hashel on four counts of alleged negligence.

We hope there will be a firm decision on the resignation to safeguard stability and the political situation

Parliamentary Speaker Jassem al-Khorafi

Mr al-Hashel is accused of not tackling corruption in his department and not dealing seriously enough with those accused of stealing public funds.

The BBC's Frank Gardner says it seems clear that relations between Kuwait's government and its 18-month-old parliament have reached a stage of paralysis.

The resignation has yet to be accepted by the ruling Emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Sabah, but it is thought likely that he will do so.

Resignations

"The government has resigned and I have been personally informed of it," said Parliamentary Speaker Jassem al-Khorafi.

Mr Khorafi called for a quick decision on the resignation in order to "safeguard political stability".

The emir could now call on either the Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah or the foreign minister, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, to form a new government. This could take
two to three weeks.

Kuwait has the only elected law making body among the Gulf Arab states, although women are prevented from voting or standing for office.

Slow democracy

Since the Gulf War liberated Kuwait from Iraqi forces in 1991, MPs have exercised their rights rigorously, probing and questioning virtually every aspect of governent policy.

Our correspondent says many Kuwaitis have welcome this accountability, whereby government contracts are placed under scutiny and corruption is condemned.

This has, however, slowed down the pace of reform. The government has a raft of measures it would like to push through, including giving political rights to women.

So far the powerful parliament has blocked or delayed a great many of them, and Kuwaitis have few hopes that a new government would make matters any easier.

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