Kuwaiti ex-emir laid to rest, election campaign halted

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

KUWAIT CITY (AFP) — Thousands of Kuwaitis joined a state funeral on Wednesday for former ruler Sheikh Saad Abdullah al-Sabah, a long-serving statesman who served as emir for just nine days.

The Gulf state began a three-day mourning period and all public offices and schools were closed while campaigning for Saturday's general election has been suspended following Sheikh Saad's death on Tuesday after a long illness.

Sheikh Saad, 78, was laid to rest in a state funeral led by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

The 274 candidates standing in the legislative election suspended their campaigns for three days which means no more rallies will be held before Kuwaitis go to the polls.

Banks, the stock market and most of private sector institutions were also...