Kuwaiti parliament dissolves, setting stage for early poll

KUWAIT CITY (AP) -- Kuwait's ruler dissolved parliament by royal decree Sunday over unspecified security concerns as low oil prices squeeze government coffers, setting the stage for early elections in the tiny country.

Kuwait's state-run television station and its news agency announced the parliament dissolving on Sunday afternoon, just a few hours after government officials held an emergency meeting. The Cabinet was expected to resign, as those sitting on the 12-member board also likely will be contesting their parliamentary seats. A caretaker government was expected to be announced in the coming hours.

In his decree, Kuwait's ruling emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah said "regional circumstances" and "security challenges" required dissolving parliament.