[JURIST] Kuwait's parliament on Tuesday averted a constitutional crisis [BBC report] by ousting seriously ill emir, Sheik Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, and handing temporary leadership to the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah. The vote brought to a close a nine-day leadership crisis in Kuwait [JURIST news archive] after longtime emir Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah [BBC profile] died and was replaced by the ailing Sheik Saad, who was too ill to be sworn in. According to a spokesman for parliament, the vote to oust Sheik Saad was held immediately before an abdication letter was received from him. Current Prime Minister Sheik Sabah is widely expected to be confirmed as the new emir when parliament opens its session next week. AP has more.

11:05 AM ET - AP is reporting that Sheik Sabah has been named as emir by the cabinet.