The new emir (right) may not be able to take an oath of office

Talks in parliament are focusing on the ability of his ailing replacement Sheikh Saad to take the oath of office.

The ruling Sabah family is meeting to name a new crown prince, likely to be the powerful PM, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad.

He has been running day-to-day affairs for years, while the new emir has rarely been seen in public.

Sheikh Saad has spent much of the time abroad receiving medical treatment since his health deteriorated after having surgery for a bleeding colon in 1997.

'Talk of the town'

During the three days of condolences for Sheikh Jaber, the new emir briefly appeared on Tuesday, in a wheelchair and passively shaking hands with mourners.

"The talk of the town ... is how His Highness the Emir will take the constitutional oath," wrote one Kuwaiti columnist in Wednesday's press.

For the swearing-in, the emir takes the podium in parliament, whose ceremonial sessions are usually televised, and recites a two-line oath vowing to respect the constitution and safeguard the country.

MPs have not been able to agree whether to hold the ceremony in private or shorten the oath for the ailing emir to read.

"It is better that the matter is not taken up by parliament and to leave it up to the family to come to an agreement," said one MP, Muhammad al-Saqr, quoted by AP news agency.