Kuwait awaits appointment of new Crown Prince

Kuwait City: Kuwaitis await the announcement of the date of a parliament session during which His Highness Shaikh Sa'ad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, will be sworn in, and for the appointment of a new crown prince.

Meanwhile, Kuwaitis are expecting a speedy appointment to the heir to the throne.

Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who has been running the country on a day-to-day basis, appeared the most likely candidate.

"We cannot bypass the role of Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad," said Abdullah Sahar, a political scientist at Kuwait University. "There is a degree of consensus in Parliament, the Cabinet and the civil community on Shaikh Sabah."

Quick choice

Former lawmaker and oil minister Ali Al Baghli concurred and said the choice would be made quickly. "It could happen next week or even in the coming days. It is a necessity considering the Emir's health condition."

Shaikh Sabah was born in 1929. Some newspapers have dubbed Shaikh Sabah the "firefighter" for his ability to devise political compromises in the face of clashes between the 50-seat legislature and the Cabinet.

While he is of the same generation of the current leadership, he is regarded as more liberal and is known to want to moderate the state's control over the country's oil-based economy.

His continued presence at the top of the government assured that Kuwait would remain a strategic US ally and partner in the Gulf.

Close to his people

The new Emir, known for his close contacts with Kuwaitis, is credited with saving the life of the late Emir when Iraqi tanks rolled into the capital in August 1990. Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah had refused to flee, but was finally persuaded by Shaikh Sa'ad to escape to Saudi Arabia.

Shaikh Sa'ad has colon problems and must leave the country for periodic medical treatment. According to the constitution, he has one year to name a crown prince, and his choice must be approved by Parliament. But Kuwaitis expect a speedy appointment, given the Emir's health.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing cut short a planned three-day trip to Nigeria yesterday so he could travel to Kuwait to offer condolences for the death of Shaikh Jaber, Nigerian officials said.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Oluyemi Adeniji met Li on arrival at the airport in the capital, Abuja, yesterday morning and Li left hours later, said Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesman Benard Udeh.

"They were having a meeting when a call came and Zhaoxing said his president asked him to proceed to Kuwait to pay a condolence visit" after the Emir died on Sunday, said Udeh.