Kuwait's cabinet says it is starting a constitutional process to transfer power from the ailing new emir to the prime minister.
After an emergency meeting Saturday, the Council of Ministers expressed deep sorrow over the health of the emir, Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah. The council said it is initiating constitutional procedures based on a law that permits parliament to remove the emir on health grounds.
Sheikh Saad, who is in his mid-70s, took office last Sunday following the death of Kuwait's long-time emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah.
Sheikh Jabber had been in ill health since suffering a brain hemorrhage in 2001, and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah has been a de-facto ruler of Kuwait in recent years.
Some information for this story provided by Reuters and AFP.