Manama: Kuwait's cabinet said that it regretted recent "illegal" rallies and commended the security forces for maintaining law and order.
In its first meeting following the clashes between anti-riot police and crowds at a forum to discuss the issue of constitutional amendments, the government said it supported the move by the Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah to ensure order, security and stability in Kuwait and his determination to confront attempts to cause chaos and undermine national security.
The ministers also said that they fully backed the Emir's call to the media to help calm the situation in Kuwait, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported on Monday.
The official news agency reported that Shaikh Sabah told the editors-in-chief of the local newspaper that people should resort to the parliament or courts and use only constitutional and legal channels to solve differences.
Several people were injured when the police clashed with people keen on attending the forum organizsed by opposition lawmakers amid news about a possible amendment of the constitution.
Violent standoff
The rally degenerated into a scuffle after a standoff between the police and some of the people present at the forum became violent.
The police said that they were pushed to take action after participants challenged them and became abusive.
However, some people said that the police had used batons to attack the crowd and disperse them.
The Kuwaiti media were also divided on what happened on Wednesday evening, with each daily blatantly taking sides in its coverage either with or against the government.
A government spokesman said that the authorities were investigating the incidents and would deal with violations according to the constitution and law.
