Flags at half mast to mark death of Kuwaiti leader

Flags are being flown at half mast at government buildings this weekend as a mark of respect following the death of the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jabar Al-Sabah.

The Union Jack and the Cayman Islands flags are being lowered to half mast until sunset on both Saturday and Sunday, according to a government statement.

The Kuwaiti leader died on Saturday, at the age of 86. The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed.

The Kuwait News Agency reported that the emir had been admitted to hospital late last month due to what it described at the time as an emergency health problem.

Sheikh Nawaf had been emir of the tiny, oil-rich, Middle Eastern nation for three years.