Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah issued a decree on Monday to suspend parliament sessions for one month in an apparent bid to defuse tensions between the government and MPs. The decision was based on an article in the constitution that allows the ruler to suspend parliamentary meetings for a maximum of one month, state-run Kuwait television said. Earlier on Monday, the cabinet approved a draft decree recommending to the emir to enforce the suspension. Tensions have increased between the opposition-controlled parliament, elected just over four months ago, and the government controlled by the Al-Sabah ruling family. Opposition MPs have repeatedly accused some members of the government of wide-ranging irregularities, forcing two cabinet ministers to quit since the opposition scored an impressive victory in the February snap polls.
