KUWAIT, Oct 13: Kuwait and its main ally the United States will launch a joint inquiry on Sunday to probe how cooperation between them fell apart in the aftermath of the killing of a US Marine in a “terrorist” attack.

But Kuwait’s government stressed following its weekly meeting on Sunday the attack “will never impact the deep friendly and historical ties with the United States”.

Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled al-Sabah told a news conference in Kuwait on Saturday night that confusion reigned for four to five hours after Tuesday’s attack, which led to the arrest of a cell with indirect links to Al Qaeda.

Kuwait said it had foiled further attacks against Western targets in the oil-rich state by arresting the group.

One Marine was killed and another wounded in Tuesday’s attack during training on a Kuwaiti island.

The Marines killed the two attackers and immediately arrested 31 people in the area, tied their hands and placed them face down on the ground in a deserted house.

The attackers were said to be key members of the alleged cell, who had trained in Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan.

The Kuwait government strongly condemned the “terrorist act”.

It said in a statement sent to Reuters: “The Kuwaiti people will never forget the decisive (US) stand in the worst of times...and it is still keeping to its word to deter the threats of the Iraqi regime and its evil intent.”

CONFUSION: Sources said Kuwaiti police officers were not allowed to take charge of the situation for a few hours after the attack and there was a struggle over which country’s officials were in charge.