The resignation of Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Salem Al-Sabah was accepted on Tuesday and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ali Al-Rashed appointed acting foreign minister, the state news agency reported.

The country is locked in a long-running battle between the government, dominated by the ruling Al-Sabah family, and parliament, which regularly challenges authority -- unusual in a region largely controlled by powerful families.       

News agency Kuna did not give a reason for the resignation.

Al-Rashed, who is also the Kuwait government's spokesperson, was not immediately available to comment. Earlier on Tuesday, Al-Watan and Al-Anbaa daily newspapers said that Sheikh Mohammad failed to attend the weekly cabinet meeting on Monday, a day after he missed an Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo to discuss the situation in Syria.

Kuwait, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, is home to the region's most outspoken parliament, which has triggered several government reshuffles and resignations.     

Last week, about 3,000 Kuwait customs employees ended a two-day strike after the government promised that their demands will be met. - Reuters