KUWAIT CITY, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah has formed a 16-member government, including six members of the ruling family in key portfolios.
The government declared by official decree on Thursday also included a member of the Muslim Brotherhood Organization, two ministers, including a woman, from the minority Shiite community and two other ministers representing Bedouin tribes known for their strong loyalty to the ruling al-Sabah family.
The Emir earlier named Sheikh Nawwaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah, his brother, as crown prince, and Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah, his nephew, as prime minister.
Members of the ruling family were granted key portfolios. Sheikh Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah was named first deputy prime minister and minister of defense and interior, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah was appointed foreign minister and second deputy prime minister, Ahmed Fahd al-Ahmed al-Sabah minister of energy, Ahmed Abdullah al-Ahmed al-Sabah minister of health and Ali Jarrah Sabah al-Sabah, minister of labor and social affairs.
Dr. Ismail Khodar Shatti from the Islamic Constitutional Movement, the Brotherhood's party, was named minister of transportation, Youssef Hassan Zalzala, a naturalized Shiite of Lebanese origin, was appointed minister of trade and industry and Maasouma Saleh al-Mubarak, also a Shiite, was named minister of planning and state minister for administrative development affairs.
Al-Mubarak became the first female minister in Kuwait's history when she was appointed in the previous government last year after parliament ratified political rights for women.
The two ministers representing the Bedouin tribes were allocated four minor portfolios, namely state ministers for municipal affairs, council of ministers affairs, parliament affairs and deputy prime minister.
