FORMER INFORMATION MINISTER ABULHASSAN NOW PM'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000484

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015
TAGS: PGOV KU
SUBJECT: FORMER INFORMATION MINISTER ABULHASSAN NOW PM'S
ADVISOR

REF: KUWAIT 0036

Classified By: DCM Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed recently
appointed former Information Minister Mohammed Abdullah
Abulhassan as Counselor for the Prime Minister's Diwan.
Abulhassan resigned January 2 on the eve of his planned
parliamentary grilling, which promised sharp attacks from
liberals and Islamists.


2. (C) Comment: PM Shaykh Sabah most likely offered the
position to his faithful ex-minister, the only Shi'a in the
cabinet, as an award for his loyalty to the GOK and possibly
for his willingness to shield Shaykh Sabah from criticism
that may have connected the PM to the legal scandal
surrounding the Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper (reftel).

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LEBARON