KUWAIT - Kuwaiti MPs tried to defuse a political crisis yesterday by moving to delay the questioning of prime minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah for allowing the visit of an Iranian Shia cleric, accused of insulting Sunni Islam.
In the past, ministers have resigned to avert such public questioning and Kuwait's ruler, who has the last say in politics, has reshuffled the government or even dissolved parliament to head off such crises.
The three Islamist lawmakers say the Iranian Shia Muslim cleric offended Kuwait's predominantly Sunni Muslim population with comments about the Prophet Mohammad's companions.
According to a draft of the motion, the three MPs also want to question the prime minister about allegations of corruption in government institutions.
The current impasse comes at a time when Kuwait is trying to deal with the global economic downturn and a fall in oil prices. State-run Kuwait Investment Authority has withdrawn about $3.7 billion (€2.88 billion) from abroad to invest locally, according to a local newspaper report.
The central bank last month had to save its fifth-largest lender Gulf Bank and guaranteed banks' deposits to restore confidence.
Parliament is due to discuss the grilling request today with deputies and political sources saying many MPs will seek to postpone the questioning the prime minister, who is a senior member of the royal family and nephew of the ruler.
Such a move needs majority approval in the 65-member house.
"There is an attempt among deputies to postpone the questioning for a year, and to set up a parliamentary committee to study the grilling request," said MP Ali al-Rashed.
A political source said: "The ball is now in the court of parliament. The government wants to see whether deputies can solve the problem themselves on Tuesday."
There was no immediate comment from the government, and the weekly cabinet statement made no reference to the crisis.
Shia MP Adnan Abdul Samad said parliamentarians were informed the cabinet is attending today's session, denying newspaper reports of a possible government resignation.
Other MPs said they fear that if the questioning was postponed this time, it could turn into a tool used by the government every time a questioning motion is filed. Over the weekend, the three deputies had refused to withdraw their request, made last Tuesday, despite calls by many MPs.
- (Reuters)