Women start first election campaign

Saudi women running for public office next month for the first time ever begin campaigning Sunday in another step forward for women's rights in the conservative kingdom's slow democratic process.

Around 900 women are standing in the Dec 12 municipal elections, which will also be the first time females have been allowed to participate in choosing officials.

"This is one of the first steps for women's rights, a big step for us," said Sahar Hassan Nasief, an activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah who has many friends running for office.