Parliament storming trial postponed

Manama: A court in Kuwait has put off the trial of 68 people charged with storming the parliament building to February 18.

The postponement was requested by the suspects’ lawyers and next month’s session will be used to listen to testimonies by more witnesses, including a former lawmaker and an interior officer.

The case was filed after dozens of people, allegedly including nine former lawmakers, in November 2011 forced their way into the parliament’s debating chamber while hundreds of people protested outside to call for the resignation of the government, then chaired by Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad.

The nation was subsequently divided over the merit of the unprecedented storming as several people pushed for stringent legal action against protesters while others defended it as acceptable street pressure.

The suspects denied they forced their way in and insisted that the doors were open when they reached the building after being re-routed by security servicemen.

The protesters had planned to head to the prime minister’s residence but after they were prevented from continuing, they opted to go to the parliament.