November 10, 2012 marked the golden jubilee of Kuwait’s constitution
and the country celebrated it with a spectacular $15-million fireworks
display which earned the wealthy Gulf state a place in the Guinness Book
of World Records. Tens of thousands of Kuwaitis and expatriates filled
the seaside Arabian Gulf Road to watch the dazzling display of colors
and light that saw a staggering 77,282 fireworks launched over a period
of one hour. The visual presentation marked 50 years to the day since
the late emir Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah announced that Kuwait
had become the first Arab state in the Gulf to issue a constitution and
have a parliament. 08 more images after the break...
During the past 50 years, parliament was dissolved nine times, six of
them since mid-2006, while some articles of the constitution itself were
frozen twice to suspend parliament for a total of 11 years in the 1970s
and 1980s.
The celebration came as the government and opposition are locked in one
of the worst showdowns in the OPEC member's history, amid accusations by
the opposition that the government has staged a coup against the
constitution.
More than 150 people and 24 policemen were slightly hurt during three
massive demonstrations held by the opposition to protest against the
amendment of the electoral law ordered by the emir last month.
The opposition claims the amendment is in breach of the constitution and
allows the government to influence the outcome of parliamentary polls
slated for December 1.
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