Kuwait's Emir Sheikh al-Sabah dissolves Parliament

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah has issued a decree dissolving the Gulf state's parliament, the official KUNA news agency reported, following tensions between the legislature and government.

"Due to the delicate regional developments and the need to face the dangers of security challenges, it became necessary to go back to the people... to elect their representatives... and contribute to confronting those challenges," he said in a decree.

The decree was issued at the recommendation of the government at an emergency meeting earlier on Sunday to discuss the standoff. Lawmakers had filed three requests to grill ministers over a decision to hike petrol prices and over alleged financial and administrative violations. 

The announcement has set the stage for early elections. Under Kuwait's constitution, elections must be held within two months of the dissolution of the house.

The decision came less than 24 hours after parliament speaker Marzouk al-Ghanem called for snap elections in the face of mounting security and economic challenges. The last parliamentary elections were held in 2013 in Kuwait. 

(WION with inputs from agencies)