Kuwait reappoints Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid as PM

Kuwait's crown prince issued an Emiri decree on Tuesday reinstating Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid as prime minister with the responsibility of forming a new cabinet, state news agency Kuna reported.

Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah last week temporarily handed over some of his main constitutional duties to the crown prince, his designated successor, including naming the prime minister and swearing in the cabinet.

Before doing so, the emir had accepted the government's resignation as part of measures to end a months-long deadlock between the government and opposition lawmakers. He also issued an amnesty pardoning political dissidents to defuse the row.

The previous government, the third led by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid, was the second to resign this year following a feud with Kuwait's elected parliament. The stalemate had hindered fiscal reform and paralysed legislative work.

The new cabinet will be Sheikh Sabah's fourth cabinet in about two years.