KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Sunday accepted the resignation of the Gulf state's cabinet, a routine step required by the constitution after a general election.

Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah submitted the resignation of the two-month-old government after a massive victory by the Islamist-led opposition in Thursday's election, the KUNA news agency reported.

The emir will hold consultations with senior officials and former parliament speakers before he names either Sheikh Jaber, a senior member of the ruling family, or someone else to form a new cabinet.

The government must be ready before the parliament holds its inaugural session on February 14, according to parliament officials.

Sheikh Jaber was appointed premier in late November after the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir, following a dispute with the opposition and allegations of corruption.

The opposition won 34 seats in the 50-member parliament with Sunni Islamists, including Salafists, becoming the most formidable bloc in the house with 23 members.

Women failed to win a single seat after making history in the 2009 elections by winning four seats for the first time. Liberals and pro-government candidates were also big losers on Thursday.