Kuwait opposition calls for democracy

Kuwait's opposition called Saturday for broad democratic reforms including a Western-style party system to limit the powers of the emirate's ruling family. The call came in a "national political reform programme," launched by the Opposition Coalition in the Gulf state where political parties are banned. The coalition groups almost all opposition political groups, including Islamists, liberals and nationalists as well as trade and student unions, youth activists and civil society groups. The programme proposes fundamental political, constitutional and legislative reforms to achieve a multi-party system and prevent members of the Al-Sabah family, in power for over 250 years, from leading the government, according to AFP.