Kuwait not to pay citizens' debts

The measure was one of the most unusual to come before parliament

Kuwait's parliament has rejected a bill that would have seen the government write off $27bn (£13.8bn) of its citizens' private debts.

Backers of the bill said the government should pay all the debts Kuwaitis have with private banks and firms, as a way of distributing recent oil windfalls.

"The wealth of Kuwaitis is for Kuwaitis - the oil of Kuwaitis is for Kuwaitis," said bill supporter Khaled al-Adwah.

But another lawmaker said it would be impossible to explain away such a move.

Bill opponent Marzouq al-Ghanem told the assembly: "What do we tell those who did not borrow? What do we tell those who paid back their loans or part of their loans?"

'Future generations'

Other politicians who voted against the measure accused their colleagues of succumbing to pressure by constituents so that they would be re-elected.

"It is very easy for me to become a hero and to forget Kuwait, public money, the interest of our children and future generations," said Ali al-Rashed, who also rejected the debt payment suggestion.

A total of 39 politicians voted against the proposal, while 20 voted for the measure, and four abstained.

Kuwait has about $163bn in reserves, mostly in a fund to provide for its one million citizens when oil runs out.