Dozens of Kuwaiti anti-government protesters on Wednesday forced their way into the country's parliament and disrupted a debate about efforts to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Sabah about corruption allegations.

Local media said the protesters were among hundreds of people demonstrating outside parliament.

Opposition lawmakers have sought to question the prime minister but pro-government members of parliament managed to vote down their request. But in the wake of the resignation of Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah last month, opposition leaders have vowed to step up pressure on the government.

No reason was given for the foreign minister's resignation, but the Kuwait Times newspaper quoted opposition lawmakers as saying it could be tied to a corruption probe involving alleged illegal money transfers.

Kuwait has not been hit by major pro-reform demonstrations that toppled long-time leaders in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. But the country's parliament regularly challenges the government, which is dominated by the ruling al-Sabah family.

The prime minister has survived two no-confidence votes in parliament this year, the most recent taking place in June.