Radical Islamists gain in Kuwait vote, no women elected

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

KUWAIT CITY (AFP) — Radical Sunni Islamists made a strong showing in Kuwait's legislative election and minority Shiites gained one more seat, reflecting heightened sectarian sentiment and conservatism in the oil-rich Gulf state.

Women, despite numbering more than half the electorate, again failed to enter parliament, according to official results released on Sunday.

The hardline Islamic Salafi Alliance and its allies won at least 10 seats in Saturday's poll, almost twice their strength in the previous chamber.

Sunni and Shiite Islamists grabbed more than half of parliament's 50 seats.

Sunni Islamists won 21 seats, four more than their number in the previous parliament which was dissolved by Kuwait's ruler in March after a standoff between the...