NEW ORLEANS, Jan 15: US President George Bush on Thursday moved to bolster already close US ties with Kuwait by naming it a major non-NATO ally, a designation that will make it easier for American firms to sell arms to the Gulf state.

A senior administration official said the action was taken to recognize Kuwait's "indispensable cooperation" in the containment of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and the later overthrow of his government, according to a senior administration official.-Reuters