Kuwait’s Long-Time Parliament Speaker Bows Out of Sept. Elections

Kuwait's parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim. (KUNA)
Kuwait's parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim. (KUNA)
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Kuwait’s Long-Time Parliament Speaker Bows Out of Sept. Elections

Kuwait's parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim. (KUNA)
Kuwait's parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim. (KUNA)

Kuwait's parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim said he would not run in legislative polls this month, a day before the deadline for submission ends.

Kuwait will hold early elections on Sept. 29 after the crown prince appointed a new prime minister and dissolved parliament in a bid to resolve the feud between the Gulf OPEC oil producing country's government and assembly.

Years of political infighting have stalled investment and reform in the country.

Ghanim late on Tuesday announced he would not run in the elections based on "the circumstances and requirements of each phase" and that he planned "a stronger return" in the future.

Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who took over most of the ruling emir's duties, said when dissolving parliament last month that bickering undermined national unity.

He appointed the emir's son as new prime minister in July after the previous government resigned ahead of a non-cooperation motion in parliament against the former premier.



Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Envoy to Lebanon

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
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Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Envoy to Lebanon

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with the US Envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they discussed key regional issues, with a particular focus on the evolving situation in Lebanon and the ongoing efforts to address these developments, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.
The meeting was attended by the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Lebanese Affairs, Prince Yazid bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al Farhan.