Kuwait’s Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Sabah, son of late emir, dies at 72

Kuwait’s Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Sabah, the eldest son of the late emir, who rose as an important reformer in the oil-rich Gulf Kingdom, died on Sunday, the country’s state-run news agency announced. He was 72.

Sheikh Nasser, who operated various administration posts over the years including minister of defence and deputy prime minister, had been recognised a top contender for crown prince following the death in September of his father, the 91-year-old Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

The KUNA state-run news agency did not define how Sheikh Nasser died, but he was known to be in fragile health after having a lung tumour removed two years ago.