Prosecutor questions Kuwaiti royals

Following the attack on a privately-owned TV station in Kuwait on Sunday, Reuters reports that two members of the royal family have been called for questioning by the public prosecutor.

The station, Scope TV, has accused Sheikh Faisal al-Malik al-Sabah, who is Kuwait's ambassador to Jordan, and his brother of being among the crowd that ransacked its studio. The Saudi-owned al-Arabiya has a picture of some of the damage on its website.

Sheikh Faisal appears not to be denying that he was present during the attack but his lawyer says he was "there to calm the crowd". His brother denies involvement.

Reuters says: "The [Kuwaiti] government has accused Scope TV of insulting the ruling family, but has also denounced the attack on the station."

The Kuwait Times says Scope has now gone off-air indefinitely after its owners "realised there is great displeasure from ruling family members".

Reports suggest that the station offended the Malik branch of the ruling family by claiming that their forbears tried to overthrow the government 50 years ago.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 20 October 2010.