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Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the Emir of oil-rich Kuwait and one of the longest serving leaders in the Gulf region, died on Sunday.
The Emir, who was in his late 70s, passed away at dawn on Sunday, the Kuwaiti News Agency reported, quoting the
'Amiri Diwan' or Emiri Court.
A 40-day mourning period has been declared and government offices will be closed for three days.
Sheikh Jaber led Kuwait for nearly 30 years, held the post of prime minister from 1965 to 1978 and was heir-apparent
from 1966.
He survived an assassination attempt in 1985 and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.