Women Given Voting Rights -- With Proviso

Parliament granted Kuwaiti women the right to vote and run for office, but religious fundamentalists who opposed women’s suffrage attached a clause requiring female politicians and voters to abide by Islamic law.

It was not clear whether that meant a strict dress code or separate polling stations and election campaigns.

Some female activists expressed concerns about the vague restriction, but others refused to let it dampen their joy.

“I am overexcited. I can’t believe this,” said Rola Dashti, who said she would run in parliamentary elections in 2007.