Sheikh Jaber, who was restored to power by American forces after Saddam Hussein invaded the tiny, oil-rich country in 1990, was 79 when he died after 27 years in power. He was one of the few Arab rulers who supported the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam. He allowed his country to be used as a launchpad for the American drive to Baghdad.
The new emir, who suffers from a colon condition and must travel abroad periodically for medical treatment, watched from a wheelchair as the body of his distant cousin, wrapped in a Kuwaiti flag, was carried shoulder-high through a crowd of 10,000 mourners and lowered into the grave after a brief prayer. Members of the ruling family, including
Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, stood for hours at Al Sulaybikhat public cemetery to accept condolences from dignitaries and ordinary Kuwaitis. Sheikh Sabah is the former emir's half brother. Abdul-Rhida Asiri, head of the political science department at Kuwait University, said the prime minister will become the "de facto ruler" for now, and the family could make further leadership decisions after the mourning period. The close alliance with the US is not likely to change under Sheikh Saad. Washington named Kuwait a major non-NATO ally in 2004. Kuwait signed a defence pact with Washington after a US-led coalition fought the 1991 Gulf War that liberated Kuwait from a seven-month Iraqi occupation under Saddam. The small state's strategic significance lays mainly with its oil, the 10th largest reserves in the world. Al Sabah family has ruled Kuwait for more than 250 years, and enjoys respect and approval of Kuwaitis.