Kuwaiti Cabinet ministers resigned en masse Monday, the official news agency KUNA reported, in the latest political crisis to hit the Gulf emirate. “First deputy premier and defense minister and the rest of ministers have submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah,” state minister for cabinet affairs Faisal Al-Hajji said. A number of MPs said the prime minister will submit the Cabinet's resignation to Deputy Emir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the Emir is out of the country. Parliamentary sources said the move came after ministers complained of a “lack of cooperation” from the outspoken parliament which was due to vote Tuesday on a law to increase Kuwaiti salaries by 50 dinars ($188) a month. The legislation was strongly opposed by the government which last month raised salaries of citizens by 120 dinars ($450), an increase that was seen as inadequate by the parliament. Under the Kuwaiti constitution, the Emir may either accept the Cabinet's resignation and form a new government or dissolve parliament and call for early elections. The last legislative election was in May 2006 following a standoff between parliament and the government. The Emir has faced calls recently to sack the government, appoint a new premier and hold early parliamentary polls in the emirate, which has undergone a series of political crises in recent years. A number of MPs welcomed the Cabinet resignation saying it could help to resolving the emirate's crises. “The Cabinet resignation is timely. The problem in Kuwait is that the government does not have a majority in parliament,” MP Ahmad Baqer said. “The Cabinet resignation is a good news. We welcome holding fresh elections,” independent MP Ali Al-Deqbasi told reporters. “Some members (of parliament) have continued to adopt confrontational stances with the government and to interfere in the jurisdictions of its ministers... expanding the rift between them,” said the resignation letter signed by Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah and carried by state news agency KUNA. “My colleagues and I ... put our resignations at your disposal so that your highness can decide what is appropriate.” Kuwait has yet to name an oil minister to replace Badr Al-Humaidhi, who resigned days after his appointment in November. “It is unfortunate that we face obstructive positions and practices... and a deviation in the concept of parliamentary representation,” Sheikh Jaber said. Newspapers had also reported recently that the government wanted to remove diwaniyas -- popular gathering spots in tents -
