Kuwait oil minister under pressure from parliament

KUWAIT, May 19 (Reuters) Parliamentarians increased pressure on Kuwait's oil minister today for seeking advice from a cousin linked to an embezzlement case.

Kuwaiti newspapers said deputies would decide whether to question the oil minister, a member of the ruling family, or call for his resignation after a cabinet meeting tomorrow.

As-Seyassah newspaper said deputies of the Popular Bloc had already compiled a motion to question him and would present it on Sunday if the minister did not resign before then.

''The minister has created a crisis, so all choices are open,'' Islamist deputy Adel al-Sarawi told Reuters on Saturday.

Kuwait's parliament has a history of challenging the government of the major Opec oil exporter in a region dominated by undemocratic rulers. Its battle with ministers led in March to the resignation of the previous cabinet.

''The minister's behaviour has given choices to MPs ... every possibility is open,'' Liberal deputy Abdullah al-Roumi said.

Despite vows of a fresh start by the new government, a row erupted in parliament on Monday when deputies criticised Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah for praising a cousin accused of playing a role in alleged embezzlement at a state oil firm.

The minister sparked criticism by telling Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas in an interview a week ago: ''My cousin and dear brother Ali al-Khalifa is my teacher and adviser. I seek his advice occasionally on oil issues.'' Khalifa al-Sabah, a former oil and finance minister, was targeted by state prosecutors along with top oil officials over the alleged embezzlement of 130 million dollars at Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. A special ministerial court dropped the case against him on a technicality in 2001.

Despite the verdict, parliamentarians have been calling on the government to push prosecutors to reopen the case. Khalifa has repeatedly said he was innocent.

The oil ministry could not be reached for comment on Saturday. Sheikh Ali said after Monday's stormy parliamentary session that he was ready for any decision taken by deputies.

Changes in senior personnel at the oil ministry do not usually affect energy policy in the Gulf Arab state.

Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who has the last say in politics, appointed the new government in March after the cabinet resigned to thwart a no-confidence vote in the then-health minister, also a member of the ruling family.

Reuters NC VV2159