Kuwaiti court convicts liberal politician of slandering PM

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http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE65T1R720100630

Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:55pm GMT

DUBAI June 30 (Reuters) - A Kuwaiti court convicted a liberal politician on Wednesday of slandering the prime minister and sentenced him to three months in prison, a legal source said.

Khaled al-Fadalah, who heads the National Democratic Alliance, was found guilty of defaming Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah in remarks at a public rally late last year, according to the source, who said the court also ordered him to pay a fine of 150 Kuwaiti dinars ($516).

The world's fourth largest oil exporter generally allows more criticism of public officials in the press than other Gulf Arab states, but its ruler is protected from criticism by the constitution. Many writers have been fined or imprisoned for defamation.