Saudi voters have elected 20 women for local government seats, according to early results, a day after women voted and ran in elections for the first time in the country’s history.

Up to 20 Saudi women have won seats on local municipal councils a day after women voted and ran in elections for the first time in the country’s history, according to initial results released to the Associated Press last night.

New Zealand said today it is expelling a former Iraqi Cabinet minister because he was responsible for chemical weapons production under ousted President Saddam Hussein.