KUWAIT, 25 February 2005 — Kuwait, facing a rise in militant violence, stepped up security across the country for a four-day holiday weekend starting yesterday, the Interior Ministry said.
“All preparations are in place to start implementing the plan to deploy large numbers of police patrols in all areas and major intersections, markets and public parks and other places where people gather,” Brig. Gen. Khalil Al-Shamali said in a statement.
The holiday combines the regular Muslim weekend with celebrations for National Day today and Liberation Day tomorrow, the 15th anniversary of Kuwait’s liberation in 1991 from a seven-month Iraqi occupation.
There have been a series of clashes between police and militants suspected of links to Al-Qaeda since the beginning of the year.
