Kuwaiti minister faces no confidence vote

Members of the Kuwaiti parliament have put forward a motion of no-confidence in the Finance Minister, Youssef Al-Ibrahim.

The motion was filed after a 16-hour inquisition in parliament on accusations that Mr Al-Ibrahim wasted public money in risky investments and concealed information from parliament.

He is also accused of involvement in vote-rigging in the 1999 elections, and of favouring the employment of foreigners over Kuwaitis.

Earlier, the government said that it would collectively resign if the motion of no-confidence is passed in a vote next week.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service