KUWAIT CITY, March 8: Armed forces of the Gulf Arab state of Kuwait kicked off on Monday their largest manoeuvres since the 1991 Gulf War when the oil-rich emirate was liberated from Iraqi occupation, a defence official said.

About 15,000 troops are taking part in exercises that will last for 3 days, head of the defence ministry Moral Guidance Department Brigadier Ahmad al-Rahmani told AFP.