Kuwait names new cabinet, changes oil minister

KUWAIT, July 10 (Reuters) Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, named a new cabinet for the Gulf OPEC oil producer today, replacing the energy minister, state radio said.

The energy portfolio was given to Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah, an energy sector outsider -- keeping the post within the ruling Sabah family.

Analysts said they expect the new government -- in which the finance minister kept his portfolio -- to maintain the pro-Western stance and oil policy of Kuwait, which has a tenth of proven world oil reserves.

The previous cabinet had resigned after the June 29 parliamentary elections in a procedural move. The general election was held a year early after the emir dissolved parliament amid a deadlock between some MPs and the government over electoral reforms.

Outgoing energy minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah and other cabinet members had been accused by some parliamentarians of trying to influence the June polls. Sheikh Ahmad denied the charges.

REUTERS KD ND1630