Kuwait's ruler has said he will pardon all those convicted of offending him.

The official Kuwait News Agency gave no further details about Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah's announcement, which came during a speech for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The move is an apparent effort to cool political tensions after last week's parliamentary elections in the Gulf nation.

The ruler said the pardon extends to "all" - meaning it will apparently apply to jailed opposition figures and online activists.

Over the past two years, dozens of people have been charged with remarks deemed offensive to the emir, which is a crime in Kuwait.

It is part of similar crackdowns around the Gulf Arab states which have brought harsh criticism from rights groups.

Source: Belfast Telegraph