Sole female minister survives no-confidence vote

Kuwait's only woman in politics survived a no confidence vote in parliament yesterday averting a political crisis in this small oil-rich Gulf state where women were only allowed to participate in political life in the last two years.

Minister of Education Nouria al-Subeih received 27 votes of confidence from parliamentarians and 19 votes against, with two abstentions, allowing her to retain her post after conservatives called for her ouster on accusations of mismanagement and endangering conservative religious values.