Manama: Kuwait's interior and defence minister has charged that three people were behind the protests by the stateless Arabs (bidouns) in Kuwait City.
"The Bidouns who took part in the protests were not eligible to get the Kuwaiti nationality," Shaikh Ahmad Al Humoud said. "They were deceived by three people, one Iraqi living in Iraq, another Iraqi based in London and a third in Kuwait. We had previously deported the two Iraqis and we will take legal action," the minister told the media.
The stateless people have staged several demonstrations to press for the Kuwaiti citizenship right. However, last week, the interior ministry warned that it would adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards further protests.
The bidouns rejected the warning and eventually clashed with the anti-riot police who fired tear gas and used batons to disperse protesters.
The committee supporting the protesters said that dozens were hurt or arrested while the interior ministry said that more than 20 policemen were injured.
The zero-tolerance policy was publicly supported by the government.
"The council of ministers expresses its backing and support for the measures being taken by the interior ministry to confront all forms of violence," the weekly cabinet meeting statement said.
