Kuwait City  - Thousands of Kuwaiti voters started Saturday to vote for some 50 parliamentary legislators in new elections after the country's emir dissolved parliament in March.

Some 413 polling stations, located in 97 schools in separate areas across Kuwait, received voters since the early morning, Kuwait's KUNA news agency reported.

Elections will last for 12 hours, after which the committee of each voting station will announce the voting results, according to article 31 in Kuwait's election law.

After voting ends, committees will prepare to declare the final official turnout.

Kuwait's parliament has shown for years that it can forcefully question the government and disagree with its policies.

Islamist and conservative tribal members of parliament managed to obstruct efforts to give women the right to vote. The legislation finally passed in 2005.

The emir, who is the arbitrator with the last say in politics, told his people their loyalty should be to their country rather than a tribe, sect or political faction.

Emirs have dissolved parliament five times since it was set up in 1962, sometimes leaving the country without a legislature for years.

Each dissolution was the result of disagreements between parliament and the government.

Kuwait is the most liberal Gulf Arab country with a vibrant press and an articulate civil society. (dpa)