Palestine Liberation Organisation chief Mahmoud Abbas publicly apologised to the Kuwaiti people for the Palestinian stance during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
"Yes we apologise for what we have done ... I say this to the Kuwaiti people," he declared to the media at Kuwait International Airport yesterday.
"Kuwait and the Gulf countries have always supported the Palestinian people and this aid and support continues despite certain sensitivities," he added.
Abbas is leading a delegation which includes interim Palestinian President Rawhi Fattouh and Prime Minister Ahmad Qorei, on a two-day visit to Kuwait on the first leg of a Gulf tour.
Earlier in the day Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah said: "Abu Mazen [as he is popularly known] is welcome visiting his brothers … and we wish him the best."
In remarks to Kuna, Shaikh Sabah said: "We should not act like children and keep repeating [calls for] apology… an apology is easy, Abu Mazen does not refuse to apologise … he would say more than just an apology.
"Kuwait is committed to supporting our Palestinian brothers and we will continue to extend financial support to them," Shaikh Sabah said.
