Kuwait Crown Prince in hospital after rise in blood sugar level

Kuwait's Crown Prince Shaikh Sa'ad Al Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah has been admitted to hospital for treatment of high blood sugar, the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported yesterday.

It said that Shaikh Sa'ad was hospitalised late on Thursday night after a spike in blood sugar level.

"The Emir's court ... reassured the citizens and expatriates about the health condition of [Shaikh Sa'ad] and wished him lasting health and long life," the agency said.

"His health is improving. Shaikh Sa'ad had spent a restful night and he is expected to leave hospital soon," it said.

Shaikh Sa'ad, 75, underwent colon surgery in late 1997 and has been undergoing treatment.

That year, he stayed several months in Britain for medical treatment. Since then, he has travelled several times to London for medical checkups and the last time was in September last year.

He became crown prince in early 1977, about two months after the Emir His Highness Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah ascended the throne, and one month later was appointed as prime minister as well.

But Shaikh Sa'ad gave up the premiership in July 2003 because of his health condition. Current Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and half-brother of the Emir, took over that post.

Shaikh Sa'ad is the elder son of former Emir of Kuwait, late Shaikh Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah, who died in 1965 and ruled the country from 1950.

He was appointed interior minister in Kuwait's first government after independence in 1962 and a few years later he became defence minister as well until he was appointed crown prince.

Shaikh Sa'ad is a graduate of the prestigious Sandhurst military academy.

Shaikh Sabah, 75, is currently carrying out most of the country's day-to-day affairs. The country sits on one-tenth of proven global oil reserves and is pumping between 2.6 to 2.7 million barrels of crude daily.

The writer is a journalist based in Kuwait City