Sara Al-Derees

KUWAIT: The public prosecution yesterday ordered opposition activist Sara Al-Derees detained until today pending further interrogations over allegations that she wrote comments on Twitter deemed offensive to HH the Amir. Derees gave herself up yesterday and was questioned by the public prosecutor over the offensive tweets. The prosecutor will decide whether to keep her in detention or release her on bail pending trial if the prosecutor decides to press charges.

Meanwhile, National Assembly experts are reviewing a motion filed by 35 MPs to convene an emergency parliamentary session to debate the hike in petrol prices by the government, acting speaker Abdullah Al-Tameemi said. "The experts are assessing whether the motion is in line with the constitution, and so far they have not sent their opinion to see if we can go ahead and hold the session," Tameemi said.

He said that 35 lawmakers have signed the motion, but three of them only used their stamps without signing, which is against the constitution. Nevertheless, the required number of MPs to hold the session is 32 and the number is available, he said. To hold the session, HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince will issue a decree calling for the session to be held, Tameemi said. HH the Amir is currently on a foreign tour.

Tameemi said the government has the right to object to the emergency session if it does not meet the constitutional requirements. A large number of MPs have strongly lashed out at the government's decision to raise petrol prices and demanded that the government scrap the decision or compensate Kuwaiti citizens. Emergency sessions are held when the Assembly is on long vacation and must debate a certain issue.

In a related development, MP Abdullah Maayouf yesterday asked the government to clarify the position over reports claiming that Egyptian fruit and vegetable exports could be contaminated with serious diseases like hepatitis. The lawmaker called on the health ministry and Municipality to explain the issue to consumers amid alleged reports from the United States claiming contamination and official Egyptian denials. Authorities have said that Egyptian products will be tested before they are allowed to enter Kuwait.

By B Izzak