Kuwait City: Three Kuwaiti ministers plan to quit in protest over the strained political situation and the move is expected to lead to the cabinet's resignation and dissolution of parliament, a local satellite channel reported on Sunday.
"Health minister Helal Al Sayer, justice and social affairs and labour minister Mohammad Al Afasi and state minister for development Abdul Wahab Al Harun plan to resign tomorrow (Monday)," said Al Youm television, citing unnamed sources.
The channel, which backs the opposition in the Gulf state, said the three have decided to step down in protest at the strained political situation and the treatment meted out to opposition activists.
Resignation of the government?
Their resignation is expected to shake the 16-member cabinet, Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Mohammad Al Ahmad Al Sabah's seventh in the past six years, and could lead to the resignation of the government, the channel said.
It also said Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah is expected to dissolve parliament and call a snap election.
Political tensions
Political tensions have escalated sharply in OPEC's third largest producer amid a campaign by opposition MPs to force Shaikh Nasser, a senior member of the Al Sabah ruling family, to resign.
Kuwait's public prosecutor on Sunday extended the detention of 24 opposition activists who stormed the parliament building on November 16 following clashes with riot police.
Opposition MPs are scheduled to question Sheikh Nasser in parliament on Tuesday over allegations of corruption.
