Kuwait's new amir to choose crown prince, prime minister

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was sworn in as a new Amir of Kuwait (ruler) in a private session of the Kuwaiti parliament held Sunday.

Following taking the oath ceremony, Sheikh Sabah said that he was looking forward for a new page in the history of Kuwait.

The speaker of the Kuwaiti parliament Jasem al-Khurafi announced that 64 parliamentarians agreed to the nomination of the Kuwaiti Cabinet on Tuesday for Sheikh Sabah to be the ruler of Kuwait, noting that this is a "unanimous nomination" from the Cabinet for the new ruler of Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti Ummah council (parliament) includes 65 parliamentarians including government ministers and Sheikh Sabah himself who has become a ruler of the country and did not attending his nomination session and therefore did not take part in the voting for his appointment as a ruler of Kuwait.

The taking oath ceremony opens the way before prediction on whom will be chosen as the crown prince, and for forming a new government whose prime minister will be nominated before Thursday. With this new measure controversy will start on the fate of several important posts which will be almost be confined to members of the ruling family.

The cabinet, which is presided over by Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad, the first deputy premier, is due to convene its last session today Monday and submit its resignation to the new ruler of Kuwait.