KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Opposition protesters in Kuwait City said they held a sleep-in at an alternative location after the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry blocked off Al-Erada Square.
The Saturday evening sleep-in called for on Twitter by Nation's Dignity organizers was held, instead, at the Banks Complex Square in Kuwait City after security officials sealed off the square and National Assembly area with barriers to preclude security violations during the opening ceremony of the 14th legislative term, the Arab Times of Kuwait reported.
The event's organizers announced the sleep-in would be moved from the public-gathering square in front of the National Assembly after security forces refused to take down barriers and allow in the protesters.
"Every inch of Kuwait is a 'square' for us, so any attempt of repression will not deter us from announcing another alternative," they said, emphasizing the non-violent nature of the event.
A former member of Parliament, Mussallam al-Barrak, present among the protesters, said the opposition will keep on protesting "until this Parliament collapses." He said the opposition "will not allow anyone to manipulate the constitution."
On Sunday, the emir of Kuwait, Sheik Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, opened the first session of the 14th legislative session. Parliamentary members and ministers were sworn in and top posts were elected, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.
