Kuwait Defense Minister to be Named Premier

Kuwaiti Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak al-Sabah is expected to be named the new prime minister on Wednesday before parliament is likely to be dissolved, a lawmaker said.

"Sheikh Jaber is expected to be named by the leadership to be the next prime minister and lead what is likely to be a transitional government to oversee the election," opposition Islamist MP Falah al-Sawwagh told Agence France Presse.

Outgoing Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah submitted the resignation of his government on Monday following a bitter dispute with the opposition and after allegations of corruption.

Sheikh Jaber, 69, has been in the cabinet since 2001 and was also the first deputy premier in the outgoing cabinet.

Sawwagh said that a decree by the emir dissolving parliament and calling for snap polls "was expected to be issued late Wednesday." New elections have to be held within two months, according to Kuwaiti law.

Kuwaiti opposition MPs have repeatedly called for dissolving parliament because around 15 of the 50-member house are facing allegations of corruption.