His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended on Tuesday at Bayan Palace the flag hoisting ceremony, marking the beginning of the National Day and Liberation Day celebrations, as well as the launch of the campaign for preserving the country's flag as a national symbol.

The ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Acting National Assembly Speaker Dr. Mohammad Mohsen Al-Busairi, Deputy Chief of National Guard Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and top state officials.

His Highness the Amir's convoy arrived at 10:30 a.m. and at his reception were members of the army, police, national guards, as well as boy and girl scouts. He hoisted the Kuwaiti flag and the national anthem was played, marking the beginning of the celebrations and the launching of the campaign.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah launched on Tuesday the national campaign on preserving the Kuwaiti flag as a "patriotic symbol".

The country's flag is a symbol of its independence and Kuwait has had a number of flags, the last of which was adopted in September 1961 during the reign of Kuwait's 11th ruler, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

The first article of law 26 for the year 1961 stipulates the rectangular flag should consist of a horizontal rectangle which is twice as long as it is wide. This is divided into three equal horizontal stripes, the top one being green, the middle white, and the bottom red, with the side next to the flag pole forming the base of a black trapezoid protruding into the stripes.

Kuwait's national anthem was composed in 1978 with lyrics by Ahmad Al-Adwani and music by Ibrahim Al-Soula.

The second article stipulates the flag be hoisted over public buildings, the Amir's residence, Kuwait's embassies, commissions, and consulates, as well as Kuwaiti ships.

Head of the Voluntary Action Centre Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had said in a previous statement the flag was a patriotic symbol that ought to be preserved, explaining the campaign aimed at placing mechanisms for preserving this symbol.

She called on both citizens and residents to cooperate with the National Flag Committee in this regard.

Certain specifications had been applied for the national flag, including quality of the textile used, width, length and spaces of the flag and importers and manufacturers were obliged to follow terms set for selection of the flag's colors.