DUBAI  - Kuwait's new ruler Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Wednesday named Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah as crown prince of the U.S.-allied OPEC member state, state news agency KUNA said, citing a statement from his office.

Sheikh Meshal is deputy chief of the National Guard and a brother of the late emir who died last Tuesday.

The Gulf Arab state's parliament must approve the choice.

(Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Alison Williams) ((lisa.barrington@thomsonreuters.com;))