Thousands of angry Kuwaiti protesters stormed the parliament building today, demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Sabah on charges of corruption. The march, ironically, disrupted a meeting by parliament on how to approach corruption allegations.
The march came in the wake of an earlier demonstration in front of Sabah’s home, which ended when members of the “elite forces” attacked those protesters, seriously wounding at least five in beatings. The news of the injuries fueled the anger that led to the storming of parliament.
Local media downplayed the significance of the march, saying that they briefly chanted before being forced out of the building. The corruption scandal has already claimed their former Foreign Minister, who had to resign last month on charges of being involved in a royal family plot to funnel money into overseas accounts.
Sabah, a key member of the royal family, is also believed to have been heavily involved in the plot. The protests are the first sign of Arab Spring-style demonstrations in Kuwait since January, when the regime responded to calls to protest with an announcement of a $3,500 grant for every Kuwaiti and vouchers for free food.