KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah named on Wednesday Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the new crown prince, Kuwait News Agency reported citing a statement from Minister of Emiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah.

According to the report, Al-Sabah family gave its blessing to Sheikh Meshaal Al-Sabah on holding office as the crown prince and wished him success.

Sheikh Meshaal is deputy chief of the National Guard and a brother of the late emir who died last Tuesday.

The nomination needs approval from the Kuwaiti parliament which will hold a special session on Thursday.