Kuwait will be allowed to play in international competitions after FIFA temporarily lifted their suspension.

They will be about to compete in January's Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Kuwait Football Association was originally banned by FIFA for government interference in October 2007.

Although that ban was lifted conditionally a month later, it was reactivated two months ago after the world governing body expressed dissatisfaction with the KFA's failure to hold general assembly elections.

However, Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam wrote to FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter to intervene on the Gulf nation's behalf and they have now been re-instated the AFC's official website reported.

"Being President of the Confederation I would like to practice my duty to protect the game and footballers in Kuwait," Bin Hammam wrote.

"I see it now as a duty to request that FIFA lifts the suspension temporarily to allow Kuwait to take part in competitions which are taking place in the near future, including the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup qualifiers."

FIFA are expected to review the case at their congress in March but Kuwait begin their Asian Cup Group B qualifying campaign in Australia on March 5 and will also face Indonesia and Oman.