Shamali Appointed Kuwaiti Oil Minister

Mustapha al-Shamali was appointed oil minister in Kuwait's new Cabinet, state news agency KUNA said after a parliamentary election in the major crude producer last month. The position was previously held on an acting basis by al-Shamali, after his predecessor, Hani Hussein, resigned in May under pressure from parliament.

Oil policy in the OPEC member state is set by a Supreme Oil Council, so ministerial changes are less important than in other countries. The Finance Ministry, which Shamali previously led, will now be headed by Salem al-Sabah, while Mohamed Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah will serve as interior minister, a decree by Kuwait's emir said.