WASHINGTON, Feb 11: First lady Laura Bush on Thursday hailed Saudi Arabia's municipal elections as an important milestone but expressed disappointment that Saudi women were not allowed to participate.

"I'm sorry that women weren't a part of it," Mrs Bush said in an interview. "On the other hand, I'm glad that Saudi Arabia has made the one step, the milestone actually, to have an election."

"As we look around the world we can see what happens in societies where half of the people are left out, and it's very important that to build societies, to have everyone's voice included, and that of course means women as well as men," Mrs Bush said on a PBS programme.

She said she hopes that women's rights and women's right to vote will be taken seriously around the world. Asked if she would continue to speak out on such issues even if it involves US allies, Mrs Bush responded: "Absolutely. And the people of Saudi Arabia know ... that in the US, that we believe women should vote, as well as men." -Reuters