Kuwaiti minister quits; cabinet reshuffle likely

Speculation about an imminent cabinet reshuffle is rife following unconfirmed reports that Minister of Justice Ahmad Baquer has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad.

There has been no comment from the minister himself.

Kuwait's Arabic dailies have reported that with the resignation of Baquer who is the only Member of Parliament in the cabinet; as required by Kuwait's constitution; the reshuffle will have to happen.

Al Rai Al Aam has reported that the country's political barometer has heated up recently and has quoted some anonymous advisors of the prime minister as saying that a reshuffle document has been drafted and the list of ministers has been submitted. But they ruled out any major decision before the return of the Emir His Highness Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad who is still in New York for a routine medical check-up.

Al Qabas on the other hand said that Baquer's resignation would revive calls for the resignation of Finance Minister Mahmoud Al Nouri whose resignation earlier this year has not been accepted and the expected grilling of Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Daifullah Al Sharar, and the scathing criticism of the Minister of Information Mohammad Abol Hassan indicates that a major reshuffle is likely.

Political analysts have also been quoted as saying that the government has failed to press for social and economic reforms and has to go. They also said MPs Yousef Al Zalzalah, a Shiite academic and Ganem Al Azemi, a tribal MP, are potential candidates to replace Islamist Baquer.

Al Anba, quoting unnamed sources close to Baquer confirmed that he has submitted his resignation in protest against the government decision for an independent special team to handle the issue of 12 Kuwaiti detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay.

Quoting a highly placed unnamed government source Al Seyassah said Baquer's resignation was submitted Monday. The paper reiterated the Guantanamo issue and added the minister has come under fire for reported interference in security work related to the Iraq jihad case and attempting to get some of the detainees released.

Kuwaiti authorities have arrested 16 suspects since the middle of July for allegedly planning to attack US led forces in Iraq. Some suspects were detained for recruiting juveniles and financing terror operations in Iraq.

A Kuwaiti judge earlier this week freed on bail of 300 dinars each, three teenagers and a man suspected of recruiting anti-US fighters for Iraq

So far nine suspects have been freed on bail and seven remain in custody. Authorities are pursuing four others.

The writer is a Kuwait-based journalist