LOC23:27
20:27 GMT
New Kuwaiti government, 3rd during HH the amir's rule
By Adnan Fayruz and Mona Shishter
KUWAIT, March 25 (KUNA) -- The new Kuwaiti government which was announced
on Sunday is the third during the rule of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah
al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah.
It is led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al Mohammad al
Ahmad al Sabah, who also presided over the past two cabinets that were formed
on February 2006 and July of the same year.
The latest government is the 24th in Kuwait's miniterial formations.
This cabinet grouped 15 ministers, nine of whom are members of the last
government.
Two ministers changed their former ministerial posts. They are the Minister
of Information Abdullah Saud Al-Muhailbi who was minister of municipality and
Minister of Health Dr. Maasouma Saleh Al-Mubarak who was minister of
communications.
A former minister returned to the new cabinet in his capacity as Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Mohammad
Al-Hajji Bukhadhour. He was minister of social affairs and labor during the
13th cabinet of July 2003.
Out of the 15 ministers, five are nominated for the first time for the
post. They are member of parliament Abdulwahed Mahmoud Al-Awadhi who is now
minister of state for housing affairs, Minister of Communications and Minister
of State for National Assembly Affairs Shireeda Abdullah Saad Al-Muoshirji,
Minister of Electricity and Water Mohammad Abdullah Hadi Al-Olaim, Minister of
Education and Minister of Higher Education Nouriya Subeeh Barrak Al-Subeeh and
the Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs
Moussa Hussein Abdullah Al-Sarraf.
Beside Awadhi, the new line up groups another member of parliament, Eng.
Falah Fahad Mohammad Al-Hajri, the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Three P.H.D. holders are among the cabinet members, namely the Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the
Minister of Health Dr. Maasouma Saleh Al-Mubarak and the Minister of Justice
and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdullah Maatouq Al-Maatouq.
Two women join the cabinet for the first time ever in Kuwait's history.
They are the minister of health and the minister of education and minister of
higher education. (end)
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