Kuwait cabinet to meet amid political crisis

Kuwait's ruler will hold an emergency meeting with his cabinet on Monday to try to avert a possible government collapse after three ministers resigned amid growing protests, a Kuwaiti newspaper said.
Kuwaiti daily newspaper al-Watan said the government could submit its resignation to the emir on Monday morning before protesters plan a large demonstration against the government.
"His Highness the Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah will head a cabinet meeting, to end the current crisis between the legislative and the executive authorities," Watan reported, citing special sources.
The paper said at least three ministers, including the minister of justice, minister of health and minister of state for development affairs, had resigned because they were unhappy with the government's performance.
The Gulf state, which is one of OPEC's largest oil producers, has faced growing protests demanding the resignation of the prime minister over corruption allegations. The demonstration called for later on Monday is significant because for the first time it is backed by leaders of some major tribes.
The organisers have also called for a sit-in at a central square in the capital called "determination" square until Tuesday morning, when the prime minister is due to be questioned by the house on corruption charges.
The latest standoff between government and parliament comes after several Kuwaitis were detained when they, accompanied by several opposition lawmakers, forced their way into the assembly earlier this month during a demonstration demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah step down.
Kuwait's emir, who has the final say in the Gulf state's politics, has denounced the storming of parliament as a "black day" and ordered security forces to take "all necessary measures" to maintain public order.
For several months, hundreds of people have protested outside parliament each week to demand the removal of Sheikh Nasser.