Kuwait in turmoil as opposition bids to oust PM

“But what makes it unique and dangerous is the fact that this time the government has a majority in parliament and thus can pass any legislation even if it contradicts the constitution. The conflict is raging around government attempts to neutralise the constitution by withdrawing key legislative and supervisory powers enjoyed by MPs,” said Rasheed.

The crisis was sparked by a police crackdown on a December 8 public gathering held by the opposition to protest an alleged government-backed plot to amend the 1962 constitution with the aim of suppressing public freedoms.

Forces used batons to beat up demonstrators,injuring at least four MPs and a dozen citizens. “The unprecedented assault on the MPs was an attack on the Kuwaiti people (which) triggered a confrontation between the people and the government,” said Nasser al-Abdali,head of the Kuwait Society for the Advancement of Democracy.

“Any actions within the framework of the constitution are acceptable but moves outside the constitution are totally rejected. This explains the intensity of the current crisis,” said Abdali.

Opposition MPs representing the three main groupings in parliament filed a motion to quiz the premier over the clashes in a session scheduled for Tuesday. “The parliament session… will be the most dangerous session to be seen in Kuwait,” Ahmad al-Khateeb,a respected veteran politician,wrote in the weekly Al-Taleea.

“During the session,the future of Kuwait,democracy and the constitution will be determined,” said Khateeb,who was on the committee that wrote the 1962 constitution.

Liberal MP Aseel al-Awadhi described the opposition campaign as an “intifada (uprising) to safeguard the constitution against attempts to undermine it.”

Opposition figures stress they aim to bring down the government,which they accuse of suppressing public freedoms and plotting to cut powers the constitution gives parliament. “We will not coexist with this government under one roof,” said opposition MP Mussallam al-Barrak,declaring they are backed by 21 MPs in the 50-member parliament.