Kuwaiti MPs stall on women's rights vote

A push to allow Kuwaiti women to participate in local elections stalled today when Islamist and conservative MPs abstained en masse from a key vote, leaving it short the number needed to for a clear answer either way.

Sixty MPs were present for the vote. Twenty-nine voted to allow women to run for municipal council seats and vote in the local elections, two voted against and 29 abstained. Thirty-three yes or no votes were required for a valid vote, so the speaker said a new vote would be required.