Political tensions are running high in the Gulf Emirate of Kuwait, following a 16-hour parliamentary questioning of Finance Minister Yussif Al-Ibrahim, held over accusations of wasting public funds. Lawmakers accused Al-Ibrahim of taking high-risk investment decisions, nepotism and vote rigging, incurring financial losses of over 320,000 Kuwaiti dinars (one million dollars) to the state.
Following Al-Ibrahim lengthily defense, the Kuwaiti government has pledged full support for the minister and threatened to resign if a no-confidence vote was passed against him on July 3, 2002. The motion requires the support of 24 MPs.
The government had already dissolved back in 1999 the 46-seat parliament after a no-confidence move was passed against the then justice minister Ahmad Al-Kulaib. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
