KUWAIT CITY, Feb 7: MP Musallam Al-Barrak has denied allegations that the opposition intends to exclude certain groups from the newly-formed unified coalition.

Al-Barrak made the statement after the meeting of the Majority Opposition members, youth organizations and supporters of the opposition in his diwaniya in Andalus on Thursday, during which they discussed plans of the coalition. He asserted, “We don’t want to stop any party from joining the coalition.” He said there is no truth to allegations that the National Democratic Alliance and Democratic Forum have opted out of the coalition.

However, the two groups later announced they have no plan to join the coalition, saying, “We are not parties to any front or coalition formed in Wednesday’s meeting and we have nothing to do with any decision taken that day.”

On the plans of the coalition, Al-Barrak unveiled a plan to hold sit-ins daily, from 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight, in the Municipality Garden, opposite the Justice Palace, in solidarity with former lawmakers Falah Al-Sawagh, Khalid Al-Tahous and Bader Al-Dahoum who have been sentenced to jail for their statements on Twitter. He added the coalition has agreed to form a preparatory committee, consisting of various bodies, to draft its work program and present it in a meeting slated for Sunday at the diwaniya of former MP Mohammed Al-Khalifa.

Meanwhile, former MP Mohammed Al-Dallal considers Thursday’s meeting historic considering the attendance of the members of different syndicates, unions, societies, youth groups and blocs, as well as the former lawmakers. He pointed out the gathering reflected the determination of the participants to coordinate their efforts towards the implementation of strategic reforms and to stand against autocracy.
In a related development, the Youth Movement Coordinative Committee has expressed support for the coalition while affirming its willingness to cooperate with the honest people in the country. It also urged all Kuwaitis to support and interact with the youth movement.

Furthermore, Court of Appeals, presided by Judge Anwar Al-Anazi, scheduled a hearing on Sunday to look into the case of three former MPs who have been sentenced by the Criminal Court to three years in prison for making statements deemed offensive to the authority of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.