Kuwait's oil, communications ministers resign - MP

KUWAIT, June 30 (Reuters) Kuwait's oil minister and communications minister have resigned amid a political standoff between the OPEC producer's government and parliament, a member of parliament said today.

''We have learned that the resignations of the oil minister and communications minister have been accepted,'' MP Waleed al-Tabtabai told reporters in parliament.

Kuwait's government has been locked in a battle with parliament for months, delaying key legislation in the world's seventh largest oil exporter.

On Monday, deputies scheduled for July 9 a no-confidence vote against Oil Minister Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah, escalating the conflict.

Lawmakers had questioned Sheikh Ali, a member of Kuwait's ruling family, for nine hours over his fitness for office and 10 decided they should seek to remove him from office.

Changes in senior positions at the oil ministry do not usually affect the overall energy policy of Kuwait as final decisions are made by a state committee.

The row over Sheikh Ali erupted after the minister told al-Qabas newspaper that he had sought advice from Sheikh Ali al-Khalifa al-Sabah, a former minister who was once investigated over a graft scandal.

The minister had apologised to parliament but said he had not allowed anyone to influence Kuwait's oil policy.

Al Jazeera Television reported on Tuesday that Communications and Parliament Affairs Minister Sherida al-Moasherji had resigned but there was no official confirmation until today. It was not immediately clear why Moasherji, an Islamist, had stepped down.

Kuwait's parliament has a history of challenging the government, unusual in a region comprised of autocratic rulers.

Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who has the last say in politics, has urged MPs to let the government get on with its work just three months after the previous cabinet resigned amid pressure on the health minister.

Kuwait's rulers have dissolved parliament several times since it was set up in 1963.

REUTERS SBC RK1700