In his inaugural speech, Kuwait's new emir calls for state responsibility.
In his inaugural speech, Kuwait's new emir calls for state responsibility. Written by Ahmed Hagagy Source reuters.com December 20, KUWAIT (Reuters) - In his first statement as emir since his predecessor's death last week, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah of Kuwait criticized the government and parliament on Wednesday for actions he claimed had harmed the country's interests as an ally of the United States. Sheikh Meshal, 83, objected to pardons given by his predecessor and denounced decisions to assign people to positions that were "not consistent with the simplest rules of justice and fairness". Which pardons the new emir took issue with was not stated. His predecessor pardoned a number of people, including opponents and dissidents as well as individuals who had been convicted of spying for Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Muslim organization in Lebanon, and Iran. He emphasized the significance of governmen