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Kuwait passes law for women's right to vote 1 hour, 10 minutes ago



KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's parliament passed a law on Monday granting women the right to vote and run in elections, for the first time in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.


Kuwaiti women lining the podium burst into cheers when parliament speaker Jassim al-Khorafi said the legislation had been passed by a majority of the all-male parliament to grant full suffrage to women.

"We made it. This is history," said prominent activist Roula al-Dashti. "Our target is the parliamentary polls in 2007. I'm starting my campaign from today," she told reporters.

There were 35 in favor, 23 against, and one abstention on the vote that had met fierce resistance from Islamists and other MPs.

Women activists said it was too late for women to vote and run for the municipal elections set for June 2.

Parliament said earlier this month women could not vote in June municipal polls after delays to a vote on a limited bill that would have allowed women to participate. But it said similar polls in 2009 could be opened to them.

Some women's groups in Kuwait -- a key U.S. ally in the Gulf -- had reacted angrily to the news they could not join this year's local polls.