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Crown Prince appointed Emir

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has died. The Crown Prince, Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah (76), has been appointed as the new Emir, the Kuwaiti Cabinet announced. Sheikh Saad is known to be in poor health and had been hospitalised in June, last year, on account of the rise in glucose levels in his blood.

The Emir's death was announced over state television, prompting a closure of government offices for three days and the declaration of mourning for 40 days.

Soon after the news of Shiekh Jaber's death broke in the morning, grieving crowds began gathering outside the Dasman palace in Kuwait City. Sheikh Jaber (79) was rarely seen in public after he suffered a minor stroke in 2001.

Sheikh Jaber was the 13th ruler of a 245-year old dynasty. He held the post of Prime Minister from 1965-78 and had been declared heir-apparent from 1966. He survived an assassination attempt in 1985 as well as Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.

During his rule, Kuwait, which holds nearly eight per cent of the world's oil reserves, has remained a key American ally, and has been dependent on Washington for its protection.

Following the invasion by Iraq, Sheikh Jaber fled to neighbouring Saudi Arabia where he formed a government-in-exile in the city of Taif. He returned in March 1991 after the first Gulf War was over.

Known as a decisive ruler prior to the invasion, Sheikh Jaber assumed a low profile in his later years.

He is credited with backing the right of Iraqi women to participate in parliamentary elections, which will take place next year.

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