TEHRAN -- Iran's presidential adviser for Women's Affairs Zahra Shojaei proposed here Thursday membership of male MPs in the Women's Central Council in the Parliament (Majlis). She said that the women's affairs are national.

"We maintain that the budget allocated to women's affairs in the administrative apparatuses should be earmarked for narrowing the gap between men and women in these entities," she told a gathering.

Since his election on a landslide vote on May 23, 1997, President Mohammad Khatami has called for more participation of women in social affairs.

For the first time in the history of the Islamic Revolution, a woman was elected to the Majlis Presiding Board. Also, another woman was appointed as a district governor in southern Iran.

(IRNA)