The prime minister has been running the country for many years

The move comes just days after Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah became emir following the death of Emir Jaber al-Ahmad.

The new emir has suffered ill health for many years, spending much of his time abroad and rarely appearing in public since colon surgery in 1997.

Sheikh Jaber, who died on Sunday had rule the oil-rich state, which is a staunch US ally, for 27 years.

Oath of office doubts

It seems likely that the powerful prime minister, who has already been running day-to-day affairs in Kuwait for years, will continue as leader without a title either until the new emir stands down or another way is found out of the succession crisis.

The 75-year-old long time crown prince, Sheikh Saad, assumed the title of emir just hours after the death of Sheikh Jaber.

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

However, his ongoing ill health have led to severe doubts about whether he will even be able to take the two-line oath of office in parliament, let alone lead.

"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.

'Family trust'

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.

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 request that he Sheikh Sabah act as leader was made during a visit to his home by members of the ruling family.

Kuwaiti state television aired footage of that visit, showing pictures of the family kissing the prime minister in congratulations.

"The members of the family renewed to Sheikh Sabah the trust bestowed on him by the late emir and appealed to him to continue leading" the country, an official statement said.