Kuwait’s emir warned at opposition protest
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19964068
Several protesters were hurt and others detained when protesters clashed with security forces outside Kuwait’s parliament building, reports say.
At least 5,000 people took part in the demonstration on Monday evening.
In an address that surprised observers, ex-MP Mussallam al-Barrak warned the emir he would not be allowed to “take Kuwait into the abyss of autocracy”.
The opposition fears the government will try to alter legislation before upcoming parliamentary elections.
The emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, dissolved the National Assembly earlier this month after the emirate’s highest court rejected a government appeal aimed at changing electoral boundaries.
The government said it wanted to safeguard the outcome of future polls; critics said it planned to alter the boundaries to its advantage.
Earlier, demonstrators listened to a speech by Mussallam al-Barrak which many observers said was striking in its criticism of the 83-year-old emir.
“We will not allow you, your highness, to take Kuwait into the abyss of autocracy,” he warned. “We no longer fear your prisons and your riot batons.”
“If your highness decides to change the election law by emiri decree, then you alone are responsible for complicating matters and you alone are responsible for resolving it.”
His remarks drew repeated chants of “We will not allow you, we will not allow you” from the crowd.
The dispute began in June, when the Constitutional Court declared illegal February’s elections, in which the Islamist-led opposition made significant gains. The court reinstated the previous parliament.
Last year, protesters stormed the parliament building when the government tried to prevent former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Sabah facing questions about the alleged payment of bribes to pro-government MPs. Sheikh Nasser and his cabinet resigned the following month, triggering February’s elections.
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this is one of the powerful monarchies in the arab world..its going to come under pressure..but its a USA ally so how will the media portray the struggle? just like bahrain i would presume..
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I don’t think it will be like Bahrain, the US is not doing anything there because the conflict is between Sunni Muslims and Shiites Muslims, and “they” want it to increase, but in Kuwait Islamist want to rule the country, just like here, Libya and Tunis, and probably Syria too
wasnt Bahrain between shia and sunni to or was it not?
It was between Sunni and shia
ok my point is it will be like bahrain because the west wont do anything
also they are http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characene b lood-line so it will go when all they’ go ….back to where ever ‘they’ come from niburuOrmarduk………..