Kuwait Forms New Cabinet

Kuwait's state-run press reports that the prime minister has formed a new cabinet after the former cabinet quit in March amid calls for political reform.

Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah replaced the oil and commerce ministers while bringing in six new people to hold positions in the 16-member group.

The new line-up includes four members of the Al-Sabah ruling family, one less than in the previous cabinet.

Protests demanding Al-Sabah's resignation have broken out repeatedly in the oil-rich country in recent months, part of region-wide demonstrations inspired by the ousting of leaders in Egypt and Tunisia.

compiled from agency reports