Kuwait security forces block rally outside parliament

PanARMENIAN.Net - Security forces blocked hundreds of protesters from staging a rally outside the parliament building Sunday, December 16 as Kuwait's emir denounced anti-government factions as committing "treason" and vowed to stand firm amid the country's deepening political crisis, AP reported.

The hardline stance underscored the potential for Kuwait's tensions to escalate into more serious clashes and further polarize the oil-rich Gulf state between backers of the ruling establishment and groups claiming it overstepped its powers.

So far unrest has been limited during near-daily protests since Dec. 1 parliamentary elections, which were boycotted by a broad-based opposition — Islamists, tribal clans and liberals — over objections to changes in voting rules.

But protest leaders pledge to strengthen their push for the dissolution of the new parliament and call new elections under the former rules, which allowed voters to cast multiple ballots and appeared to favor the opposition.

The election boycott capped months of political showdowns that included street clashes and tear gas — the first serious unrest in a country that had previously avoided any upheaval during the Arab Spring.

In a speech to inaugurate the new parliament — almost completely pro-government after the opposition boycott — Kuwait's emir accused the protesters of "treason" and said he would not tolerate 'attempts from anyone to tear apart social unity.'

Kuwait has the most politically powerful parliament among the Gulf Arab states, giving lawmakers the ability to openly criticize the ruling family and call government officials for questioning. It's a tool that was used often by opposition groups, which had control of parliament after elections in February.

The emir, however, later disbanded the parliament in a challenge over voting districts. The decision set up months of political battles that effectively paralyzed Kuwait's domestic economy.

On Saturday, more than 1,000 protesters held an overnight occupation of streets in a Kuwait City commercial district.