Kuwaitis demonstrate for third consecutive night

Thousands of Kuwaitis demonstrated in several areas of the oil-rich Gulf state on Wednesday for the third consecutive night to demand that a new parliament be scrapped, witnesses and activists said. The demonstrations were staged in at least seven areas in predominantly tribal suburbs and riot police used teargas and stun grenades in some areas to disperse protesters, witnesses told AFP. The demonstrations have held nightly protests since Monday, with activists saying that dozens of people were arrested and a some slightly wounded in clashes with riot police. Saturday's snap polls were boycotted by the opposition and all the 50 seats were won by pro-government candidates, including a record 17 seats by the Shiite minority. The Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition boycotted the polls in protest against the amendment of the electoral law which the opposition says enables the government to control the outcome of polls. Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah earlier Wednesday asked outgoing prime minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah to form a new cabinet after his government resigned two days ago as required by the constitution. Opposition figures have vowed that they will continue to protest until the new parliament, due to meet on December 16, is dissolved and the electoral law amendment is repealed. The opposition also plans to stage a huge demonstration on Saturday. The Gulf state has been rocked by a series of political disputes since mid-2006 between MPs and the government.