Bamako, 27 Aug-(ANA)-The president of Mali has announced that he is not going to sign the country's new family law, instead returning it to parliament for review.
Muslim groups have been protesting against the law, which gives greater rights to women, ever since parliament adopted it at the start of the month.
President Amadou Toumani Toure said he was sending the law back for the sake of national unity.
Muslim leaders have called the law the work of the devil and against Islam.
More than 90% of Mali's population is Muslim.
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.
Tens of thousands have turned out at protests in Bamako in recent weeks and there have been other demonstrations against the law across the country. (ANA)
Google/Staff Protest