Kuwait's cabinet has named Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah as the new emir.
Ministers announced the widely-expected appointment hours after Kuwait's parliament voted unanimously to remove ailing emir Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah from office. His nomination now goes to parliament for approval.
Sheikh Sabah has been Kuwait's de facto ruler in recent years. He replaces Sheikh Saad, who held the post for just over a week following the January 15 death of his cousin, Kuwait's long-time emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
