A Kuwaiti court sentenced opposition leader and former MP Mussallam al-Barrak to five years in prison on Monday after he was convicted of insulting the country's emir. Barrak, a nationalist, was charged with making statements offensive to the ruler of the oil-rich Gulf state, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, at a public rally on October 15. Criticising the emir is a crime in Kuwait that carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

KUWAIT (Reuters) - A prominent Kuwaiti opposition politician was sentenced to five years in jail on Monday for insulting the country's ruler, his lawyer said. The court found Musallam al-Barrak, an outspoken former member of parliament, guilty of insulting Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah in a speech in October last year in which he appealed to the emir to avoid "autocratic rule".

Kuwait's cabinet has approved a new media bill stipulating a 10-year jail term for religious offences and a fine of more than $1 million for criticising the emir, local media reported on Thursday. The government of the oil-rich Gulf state, under pressure from Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition groups, has not released the "combined media law" but local newspapers published leaked details. To become effective, the new law must be passed by the pro-government parliament and signed by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber has said that Kuwait is ready to help the Maldives in building infrastructure Projects. The Amir made this remark during his meeting with President Dr Mohamed Waheed, yesterday. At the Meeting held in Bayan Palace, the President and the Amir discussed the long-standing fraternal ties that exist between the two countries and wide ranging issues for expanding cooperation between the two countries.After the meeting, Amir hosted a State Banquet in honour of President Waheed.