Setback for government in new Kuwait parliament

Dubai: The Kuwait government faced its first political setback in the new parliament when its candidate for the speaker's post lost to veteran opposition leader Ahmad Al Sa'adoun yesterday.

Kuwait's National Assembly began its first session yesterday with a ceremonial speech by Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who called on MPs to cooperate with the government, end disputes and fend off internal and external dangers.

"Our country is facing a host of internal challenges and external dangers that are hampering progress ... and stalling development," Shaikh Sabah told the new parliament elected on February 2 in snap polls.

"Fending off these dangers should top your list of priorities ... and preserving national unity and fighting dissent... should be your most important duty."

The opposition, which controls 34 seats in the 50-member house, consolidated its grip on parliament, winning the speaker, deputy speaker and most of the parliamentary panel posts.

Al Sa'adoun, 78, received 38 votes to the 26 won by MP Mohammad Al Sager, who was backed by the government and its parliamentary minority allies.