Manama: Kuwait's urgent matters court on Wednesday refused to bar controversial candidate Mohammad Al Juwaihal from running in the parliamentary elections, Al Watan reported on its website.
A case had been filed by Mohammad Munawar, a lawyer, against the candidate whose "derogatory" remarks against another candidate and his tribe on Monday evening resulted in clashes and in the torching of his tent headquarters.
Al Juwaihal was initially crossed off the record of candidates by an ad-hoc committee over legal issues, but was late reinstated by the administrative court.
However, he again sparked a controversy after he reportedly insulted Al Mutair tribe as he was delivering a speech to his supporters. Angry tribesmen converged on his headquarters and set the tents ablaze. Mohammad Munawar filed a suit to have him barred.
The unexpected chaotic ending to weeks of campaigning for the 50-seat parliament was compounded on Tuesday evening when hundreds of protestors rallied in front of the privately owned Al Watan television station as it was airing a debate on the elections.
Protesters stormed the building and the channel suspended the debate, suspended its broadcast for some time before it resumed its programmes. Around 400,000 Kuwaitis are scheduled to cats their ballots between 8 am and 8 pm on Thursday.
Results are expected to be announced at least four hours after the polling stations are closed.
