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Celebrating a golden jubilee Kuwait style: Gulf state spends £10million to put on the biggest firework display of all time
By Phil Vinter
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For the paltry sum of just £10million Kuwait earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records last night as it celebrated the golden jubilee anniversary of its constitution in style by laying on the biggest fireworks display of all time.
A dazzling array of colours illuminated the skies above the country's capital of Kuwait City as a staggering 77,282 fireworks were launched over the period of an hour.
A representative of Guinness World Records announced the achievement on Kuwait television at the end of the display which had been watched by tens of thousands of Kuwaitis and expatriates on the Arabian Gulf Road by the sea.
The visual presentation marked 50 years to the day since the late emir Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah announced that Kuwait had become the first Arab state in the Gulf to issue a constitution and have a parliament.
Before the festivities Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah pledged the government's continuing commitment to democracy and made a plea for national unity as the wealthy Gulf state struggles with a political crisis.
Exploding fireworks illuminate the sky over Kuwait City, Kuwait, last night, during celebrations on the occasion of the 50th Constitution Day jubilee
The firework show which lasted for an hour was the largest of its kinds in the world and cost a reported £10million
A dazzling array of colours illuminated the skies above the country's capital of Kuwait City as a staggering 77,282 fireworks were launched over the period of an hour
In the past 50 years parliament has been dissolved on nine occasions, while some articles of the constitution itself were frozen twice to suspend parliament for a total of 11 years in the 1970s and 1980s.
Last night's celebration came as the government and opposition are locked in one of the worst standoffs in the country's history, with the opposition accusing the government of staging a coup against the constitution.
More than 150 people and 24 policemen suffered minor injuries during three massive demonstrations held by the opposition to protest against the amendment of the electoral law ordered by the emir last month.
The opposition claims the amendment is in breach of the constitution and allows the government to influence the outcome of parliamentary polls due on December 1. It insists that the emir must repeal the amendment.
The opposition is marking the constitution anniversary with a huge rally in Kuwait City on Sunday.
The visual presentation marked 50 years to the day since the late emir Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah announced that Kuwait had become the first Arab state in the Gulf to issue a constitution
Thousands of people gather to watch fireworks and dramatic laser display which lights the sky near the Kuwait Towers
Revelers wave Kuwaiti flags in the foreground as the fireworks burst above the Persian Gulf
Locals flocked to the beach to witness the incredible display, many recording it on their mobile phones
A youngsters climbs on a broad pair of shoulders to get a better view of the spectacular display
Last night's celebration came as the government and opposition are locked in one of the worst standoffs in the country's history, with the opposition accusing the government of staging a coup against the constitution
This dramatic image captures the moment some of the thousands of fireworks gave the night sky an orange hue
Before the festivities Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah pledged the government's continuing commitment to democracy
Bright white fireworks light up the high rise buildings in the capital of the oil-rich state
Purple and red fireworks light up the skyline above Kuwait