Laura Bush urges more public roles for women

US first lady Laura Bush yesterday encouraged Middle Eastern leaders to expand women's participation in their societies as she herself took on a new role as an international goodwill ambassador.

After shying from the spotlight during US President George W. Bush's first term, Mrs. Bush became the face of women taking on larger public roles with a speech to the World Economic Forum conference on the Middle East.

"Freedom, especially freedom for women, is more than the absence of oppression," she said. "It's the right to speak and vote and worship freely. Human rights require the rights of women."

She said there has been "extraordinary progress" for women in the Middle East and nearby regions. She said was delighted that Kuwait extended the right to vote to women last week, drawing the singular outburst of applause to interrupt her speech.

Women can now vote in all Middle Eastern nations where elections are held, except Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, Qatar and Oman all have held their first elections in recent years and have allowed women to cast ballots.

With anti-US demonstrators taking to the streets to protest allegations that US interrogators have mistreated Muslim captives, Mrs. Bush stressed her country's religious inclusion: "In the United States, we respect the traditions of all faiths."

Her appearance at the Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center was the most high-profile event of a three-nation tour that will include visits to programs that are advancing childhood education and women's roles.

Mrs. Bush's speech came on the second day of a three-dayconference sponsored by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.