KUWAIT CITY, June 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Kuwait appointed its first female cabinet minister on Sunday, the state news agency KUNA reported.

   Professor Massouma al-Mubarak, a political science teacher at Kuwait University, was named as planning minister and minister of state for administrative developments affairs, KUNA said.

   Al-Mubarak's appointment was announced by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, it added.   The two portfolios she is taking were previously held by Sheik Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, who will retain his post as communications minister.

   The nomination makes Kuwait the third country in Gulf region toname a woman as cabinet minister, following Qatar and Oman.

   Kuwait cabinet named two women to its municipal council on June 5, less than a month after the country's parliament passed a bill granting women the right to vote and stand in elections, which was considered as a breakthrough in the Gulf country.  Enditem