Kuwait City: Kuwaiti police has used force to break up a protest and crackdown on illegal tribal primaries being held in the nation ahead of national elections, authorities said on Thursday.

The Interior Ministry warned in a statement that it wouldn't allow any group to further "challenge the law or threaten the country's security and stability."

Some 350 people had gathered on Wednesday in front of the criminal investigations department to demand the release of members of their tribes detained for questioning about organising the primaries.