Kuwait ruler urges citizens to vote

Kuwaitis should use the ballot box to express their demands in a parliamentary election on Dec. 1 and not take to the streets "screaming and wailing" in protest, the Gulf Arab country's ruling emir said on Wednesday. Thousands of people have staged regular demonstrations since late October against Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah's emergency decree reducing the number of votes allowed per citizen from four to one for the sake of Kuwait's "security and stability". The opposition movement, which includes former members of parliament and youth groups, has called a boycott of the election in the major oil producer and strategically located U.S. ally situated across the Gulf from Iran. Protests are planned on the eve of the vote in Kuwait, which has the most open political system in the Gulf, with parliament able to pass legislation and question ministers. But the emir has the final say in state matters and can veto laws. "This tension and stress and anxiety, which hangs over our country and our society, hurts you as it hurts me," Sheikh Sabah said in comments published by state news agency KUNA. "It is a great tragedy to have calls to take to the street," the emir said. "Why the chaos and riots? Why the screaming and wailing and disrupting the business of the state and harming the interests of the people?" Rallies outside parliament have been held regularly and peacefully for years, but three big marches since mid-October were broken up by police using tear gas. Protesters say they seek reform, not an Arab Spring-style revolution. Analysts say the next assembly may be more government-friendly and help ease the passing of laws. But it could lack legitimacy if the election turnout is low, and may not be seen as independent - an outcome likely to raise political tensions. The opposition - whose demands generally entail an elected cabinet including prime minister with at least some posts held by people other than relatives of the emir - held some 35 seats in the 50-seat parliament elected in February 2012.