Kuwaiti FM Appointed as New Prime Minister

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 14, 2003

Kuwaiti FM Appointed as New Prime Minister

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah on Sunday appointed former Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah as the emirate's new prime minister, the official KUNA news agency reported.

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Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah on Sunday appointed former Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah as the emirate's new prime minister, the official KUNA news agency reported.

In his decree, the 75-year-old emir instructed the prime minister-designate to name his cabinet and submit the list for approval.

Sheikh Sabah's nomination to the post of prime minister came a week after the ailing Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah submitted his resignation following last Saturday's National Assembly (parliament) elections.

Sheikh Saad's resignation was a procedural step as the Kuwaiti government has to win the confidence of the new parliament.

For the first time since Kuwait's independence in 1961, the postof prime minister would be separated from the role of heir to the throne.

Sheikh Saad, 74, became the crown prince in 1978 and has since held the post of prime minister.

In 2001, the emir suffered a brain hemorrhage that required months of hospitalization. His cousin and chosen successor Sheikh Saad also fell ill with colon troubles.

With the emir and the crown prince both having health problems, the emir's brother, Sheikh Sabah, has become the de factor ruler ofthe oil-rich Gulf state.

Last week's voting results showed that Kuwaiti voters ousted most Westernized Liberals in the parliament in favor of fundamentalist Muslims and supporters of the royal-led cabinet.

W702

AU summit ends with election of commission chairman

The African Union (AU) ended its second summit here Saturday after it elected the first chairman ofthe AU Commission.

Alpha Oumar Konare, former president of Mali, became the first AU Commission chairman after former interim chairperson Amara Essyquit the competition just before the election.

The assembly appointed eight people as commissioners to the AU Commission, similar to that of the European Commission.

During the three-day meeting, heads of state and government of AU members or their representatives discussed such issues as the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) program, the current situation in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire,and regional peace efforts.

The establishment of the AU Peace and Security Council, which was expected before the summit, has to be postponed due to a lack of enough ratification of the protocol on setting it up from the AU members.

On July 6-8, the AU Executive Council held a meeting to make preparations for the summit, during which ministers considered thereports of the AU Commission's interim chairperson on refugees, the African Charter on human rights, the Pan-African Parliament, and administrative and financial matters of the AU.

On July 4-6, ambassadors from AU members to the organization ortheir representatives held the sixth ordinary session of the Permanent Representatives Committee.

The AU, the largest political entity in Africa and modeled on the European Union, seeks to combine politics, economy, military affairs and culture as one, ultimately aimed at unifying currency and achieving free transit of personnel and goods.

Currently, there are 53 members in the AU, which has four key organs -- the Assembly, the Executive Council, the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Commission.

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