A former religious studies teacher, he left Kuwait in 2000.

He said his information came from a company executive who had left Kuwait this week.

Nearly all of the passengers will be women and children who failed to heed earlier warnings to leave Kuwait, department officials said.

But he also expressed confidence that Iraq would leave Kuwait in time.

Sanctions and diplomacy could have eventually forced them to leave Kuwait.

Most were allowed to leave Kuwait only if they agreed not to return.

Thousands of Palestinians left Kuwait and were not allowed to return.

The bank estimated that 500,000 of those foreign citizens have left Kuwait and Iraq.

"Saddam stood up to 30 countries and left Kuwait with dignity."

You must leave Kuwait, and we've given you time to do just exactly that.