Kuwait's ruler reappointed Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah as prime minister on Wednesday and asked him to form a government, the state news agency KUNA said, after a parliamentary election boycotted by the opposition. The Gulf Arab state's ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, issued the order by decree.

Under constitutional rules, Sheikh Jaber must form a cabinet before the first session of the new parliament on December 16. The old cabinet quit on Monday. Sheikh Jaber, a 70-year-old former defence minister, became prime minister in late 2011 after his predecessor was forced to resign following pressure in parliament.

Copyright Reuters, 2012