A Kuwaiti lawmaker on Thursday asked to question the oil-rich Gulf state's prime minister, blaming him for a chronic housing crisis, rife corruption and a decline in public services.

The grilling is expected to be debated late November and could lead to a vote of no-confidence that, if approved, would result in the dismissal of Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak al-Sabah, who was appointed to the post just two years ago.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah called Tuesday for comprehensive reforms in the oil-rich Gulf state, saying it was time to change old concepts.

"It is time to launch a new decisive phase and a major qualitative move aimed at achieving comprehensive reforms and complete development" programs, the ruler said at the opening of the parliament that was elected in July amid a bitter political crisis.

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday strongly criticized a 10-year prison term handed to a Kuwaiti tweeter for religious insults and called on authorities to immediately release him.

"The ruling is another example of a violation of the right to free speech in Kuwait," the New York-based HRW said in a statement.

Kuwait's court of appeals on Monday upheld a 10-year jail term against a Shiite tweeter for remarks deemed offensive to Islam's Prophet Mohammed, his wife and companions.

Hamad al-Naqi, 23, who has been in jail since March 2012, was found guilty of the religious insults and of criticizing the leaders of neighboring Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, according to the court ruling.

Oil-rich Kuwait said Monday that the generous cradle-to-grave welfare system provided to its 1.2 million citizens was "unsustainable" and it was time for change.

"The fact everyone must be aware of ... is that the existing welfare state system that Kuwaitis are used to is unsustainable," Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah said, presenting his government's four-year program to parliament.

Kuwait said on Monday it will host in January a second donor's conference to raise aid for Syrian refugees at the request of the U.N. secretary general.

"Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah is happy to host the conference in January due to the dramatic situation facing the brotherly Syrian people, to ease their sufferings and ensure humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees," said the government.

Kuwaiti security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades Wednesday to disperse hundreds of stateless residents demanding citizenship and basic rights, activists and witnesses said.

Known locally as bidoons, the demonstrators turned out to mark the international day of non-violence despite a stern warning by the interior ministry that it would deal firmly and harshly with any protest.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on the emir of Kuwait to host a second donors' conference to raise aid for Syrian refugees, the official KUNA agency said on Wednesday.

Kuwait hosted the first donors' conference in January, when participating nations pledged $1.5 billion (1.1 billion euros) for Syrian refugees.

The International Monetary Fund has urged oil-rich Kuwait to contain public spending, which has trebled in seven years, to avoid risks from a drop in crude prices.

The IMF also urged the Gulf state to speed up structural reforms, put back on track a $110 billion (81 billion euros) development plan that is lagging behind schedule and cut public subsidies.

Hopes for a breakthrough in the 30-year estrangement between the U.S. and Iran had an impact on President Michel Suleiman's Gulf tour that was gradually postponed, local newspapers reported on Tuesday.

According to As Safir newspaper, Saudi Arabia postponed Suleiman's visit to Riyadh over the international and regional developments.