KUWAIT - Jan. 28 - Govt. Resigns.

House Speaker Jassem Al Khorafi tells reporters: "The government has resigned and I have been officially informed of it. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Shaikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah will submit the resignation to the Emir". He says there is no link between the resignation and the submission of a request on Jan. 27 by an opposition MP to question the justice minister over the alleged cover-ups by the emirate's judiciary and public prosecutors. Shaikh Saad has been both crown prince and PM for the last 22 years. MPs have often called for a division of the two posts. Khorafi calls for a quick decision on the resignation in order to "safeguard political stability". He adds: "We hope there will be a firm decision on the resignation, which should not be left undecided, to safeguard stability and political situation in the country, and in order to foil those who may attempt to fish in troubled waters. Khorafi (a wealthy businessman) calls on the next government to be united and to implement its programmes based on the emirate's Constitution. But two senior opposition MPs say the power base of the ruling Al Sabah family should be reformed before a new cabinet is appointed. MP Adnan Abdel Samad says: "There are some frictions within the ruling establishment. Everyone knows about it and it has come to the surface. All political groups and MPs are demanding that this issue must be decisively resolved. What we need to do is arrange the ruling establishment before we form a new government. The problem lies at the top". Leading liberal MP Abdullah Al Naibari, who represents the Kuwait Democratic Forum says: "It's clear there is a problem in some leadership personalities, and we must resolve this issue. We need things to be resolved within the ruling house. It is clear there is a ruling crisis and no one denies it".