Kuwait's interior minister survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday after he was questioned last week over alleged financial irregularities.

Thirty deputies supported Sheikh Jaber Khaled Al-Sabah, a member of the ruling family, with 16 voting against him and two abstaining.

Last week parliamentarian Musallam Al-Barrak accused him of financial irregularities at his ministry, violations during the last elections and ordering the installation of a camera in front of parliament which he said could spy on lawmakers.

Parliament has frequently triggered cabinet resignations or reshuffles through questioning and no-confidence motions in the world's fourth-largest oil exporter.         

The emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved parliament in March after some lawmakers pushed to question the prime minister, a senior member of the ruling family. Elections were held in May.

Political parties are banned, so parliament is made up of individuals who form loose blocs. Any MP has the right to question ministers, but it takes 10 lawmakers to file a request for a no-confidence vote and a majority of the elected members of the 50-seat to vote a minister out of office. - Reuters