Mali Women's Rights Bill Halted

Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure has decided not to sign the country's new family bill into law; instead he sent it back to the parliament for review. The law was protested by Muslim groups.

Some of the provisions that have proved controversial give more rights to women.

For example, under the new law women are no longer required to obey their husbands, instead husbands and wives owe each other loyalty and protection.

Women get greater inheritance rights, and the minimum age for girls to marry in most circumstances is raised to 18.

One of the other key points Muslims have objected to is the fact that marriage is defined as a secular institution.

According to BBC, this is a political defeat for President Toure, who was a strong supporter of the bill.