KUWAIT CITY - Kuwaiti women were granted the right to vote and stand in elections in an amendment to the conservative Gulf emirate's election law that parliament passed on Monday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah told reporters at parliament that he planned to name a woman minister. "I congratulate the women of Kuwait for having achieved their political rights," he said.
Kuwaiti women now join their counterparts from Gulf neighbors Qatar, Oman and Bahrain in having the vote.
The amendment, which was finalised after several years of debate and struggle by Kuwaiti women, passed by a vote of 35 MPs for, 23 against and one abstention. It was opposed by Islamist and tribal legislators.
The result, announced by the parliament speaker, was greeted with thunderous applause from the public gallery where supporters of the amendment, including women, were gathered.
The parliamentary committee for interior and defense affairs approved the amendment earlier Monday before it was submitted to the house.
Islamist and tribal legislators had fiercely campaigned against women's suffrage on the grounds that Islamic teachings bar women from participating in political life.
The amendment of Article One of the electoral law automatically allow womens to vote and run for both the municipal council and parliament. The article, dating to 1962, limited the right to vote to men.
It was deemed out of step with the emirate's constitution which stipulates equality of the sexes.
On May 3, Kuwait's all-male parliament failed to approve a bill that would have allowed women to vote and stand for election in time for municipal polls due to take place later this year.
The failed vote prompted some 150 Kuwaiti women activists to sign a statement which accused government ministers of taking part in a "conspiracy" against their political rights.
Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who favors giving women the vote, issued a decree in 1999 granting women full political rights but it was narrowly rejected by parliament the same year.
The vote took place in the presence of dozens of activists who entered parliament after holding a sit-in outside the house to back demands for women to be given the vote.
Kuwaiti men and women stood outside raising placards.
"It is time to grant women their political rights," said one banner carried by the crowd. "Our rights are constitutional and our demands are legitimate," read another.
But three men stood aside, holding signs reading: "No rights for women," and "the right of women ... is to stay at home."
05/16/2005 16:05 GMT