Thousands mourn death of ex-emir

MORNING PERIOD: Thousands of Kuwaitis joined a state funeral for heikh Saad, who died at the age of 78. (AFP)

Thousands of Kuwaitis joined a state funeral on Wednesday for former ruler Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Sabah, a long-serving statesman who served as emir for just nine days.

The Gulf state began a three-day mourning period and all public offices and schools were closed while campaigning for Saturday's general election has been suspended following Sheikh Saad's death on Tuesday after a long illness.

Sheikh Saad, 78, was laid to rest in a state funeral led by Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The 274 candidates standing in the legislative election suspended their campaigns for three days which means no more rallies will be held before Kuwaitis go to the polls.

Banks, the stock market and most of private sector institutions were also be closed.

The government stressed however that the election, called after a new politicial crisis in the oil-rich emirate, will not be postponed.

Sheikh Saad succeeded to the throne in January 2006 after the death of his predecessor, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. But he was deposed by parliament after only nine days on health grounds.

Born in 1930, Sheikh Saad was the eldest son of the late Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem Al-Sabah, the 11th emir of Kuwait, known as the father of independence and the constitution.

He was hailed by Kuwaitis as a "liberation hero" for the key role he played during the occupation of Kuwait by Iraqi troops in August 1990, and the liberation of the emirate by a US-led coalition seven months later.

Sheikh Saad served as Kuwait's crown prince for over 30 years, and as prime minister for 25 years before he relinquished the post in 2003 due to poor health.

In January 1962, Sheikh Saad was appointed interior minister in the first Kuwaiti cabinet after independence from Britain the previous year. In 1964, he was also put in charge of defence.

In early 1997, he underwent colon surgery. He had travelled repeatedly to Britain and the United States for tests and treatment as his health deteriorated.

He was married to his immediate cousin Sheikha Latifa. He has one son, Fahd, and three surviving daughters. Two other daughters have died.

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