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Monday, December 13, 2010     GET REAL

Kuwaiti cops assault opposition parliamentarians in crackdown on Shi-ite unrest

ABU DHABI — Kuwait, in a move deemed unprecedented, has launched an assault on its parliamentary opposition.

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Kuwaiti anti-riot police attacked an opposition gathering and injured at least five parliamentarians. The Dec. 8 attack was deemed unprecedented in what has long been considered the most democratic Gulf Arab state.

"This was an outrage unprecedented in Kuwait's political history," opposition parliamentarian Jaman Al Herbish said. "There was a deliberate intention to physically assault the opposition."


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The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry has acknowledged the anti-riot operation. The ministry said special operations forces were sent to disperse an illegal gathering in which participants hurled rocks and bottles at police.

"The law-enforcers had to react against the attackers," Interior Undersecretary Maj. Gen. Khalil Al Shamali said.

Kuwait has banned all political events and outdoor gatherings in an effort to prevent Sunni-Shi'ite clashes. Several attempts to violate the ban have been quelled by authorities.

This marked the second unauthorized rally against the government since the ban was imposed in September 2010. Opposition sources said the five parliamentarians were attending a forum organized by Al Herbish to discuss a purported effort by the government to amend the 1962 constitution.

On Dec. 12, the opposition plans to submit a motion to question the Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al Ahmad Al Sabah regarding the clash. The deputies were expected to question police tactics, which they said targeted the parliamentarians at the gathering.

"I told them I am a member of parliament, but they went ahead to beat me," parliamentarian Abdel Fahman Al Anjari recalled.

Kuwait has been struggling with a contentious parliament as well as Iranian attempts to infiltrate the government and military. Parliamentary speaker Jassem Al Khorafi said the Interior Ministry has been ordered to allow indoor political meetings. But he said the ban would remain on outdoor gatherings.

"Our job is to disperse the illegal gatherings and protect the safety of citizens." Col. Shukry Al Najar, assistant director of the special forces, said.



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