KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait's Cabinet has resigned and its parliament has been dissolved over a "lack of cooperation," setting the stage for early elections.

Kuwait's state-run television and news agency made the announcement Sunday after an emergency government meeting.

Kuwait, a major oil producer and a stalwart U.S. ally, held its last parliamentary election in 2013. In that race for the 50-seat legislative body, some Islamist groups and opposition boycotted the vote.

Ahead of the 2013 poll, Kuwait still faced lingering unrest from the Arab Spring and voted in a largely pro-government group of lawmakers.

In this coming election, Kuwait faces the squeeze of low global oil prices. Government-subsidized gasoline prices have been raised and other benefits have been cut, leading to growing dissent.