Kuwait's woman minister grilled by Islamist deputy

Kuwait: Kuwait's only woman minister, who angered Islamists by refusing to wear a head scarf, faced hostile questioning from an Islamist lawmaker on Tuesday, adding to tension between the government and parliament.

Education Minister Nouriya Al Subaih has been under fire from the start of her tenure after defying Islamist calls for her to cover her hair when she was sworn in last April.

Newspapers said up to 20 lawmakers backed a move by Islamist lawmaker Sa'ad Al Sharie to interrogate her in parliament over her record - a move often used to force ministers to resign before a no-confidence vote which reports said might be scheduled.

Kuwait's parliament was locked in a row with the government for much of last year. Newspapers said the latest clash could prompt Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to dissolve the assembly.

Pressure has been mounting on Subaih, a liberal, since her ministry tried to deny an incident in which three boys were sexually assaulted by Asian labourers at a primary school, the newspapers said.

Al Sharie, requesting the questioning session, said the assaults had been the result of negligence.

He accused Nouriya of administrative irregularities and said she was behind falling educational standards.

"We have been trying to find indications of educational reform but we have found only the opposite," Al Sharie said in parliament.

He described Al Subaih's management style as: "I can do what I like and no one can hold me accountable. Anyone who is not with me can go."

The government, liberal politicians and women rights activists have dismissed the accusations against Nouriya.

Nouriya's only female cabinet colleague, Massouma Al Mubarak, stepped down as health minister in August, bowing to pressure mainly from Islamist deputies after a hospital fire.

The government has dodged previous efforts to oust ministers by reshuffling portfolios or because the ministers resigned first.

Kuwait has yet to name an oil minister to replace Badr Al Humaidi who resigned days after his appointment in November under pressure from hostile deputies.