Algerian women's groups have accused President Abd al-Aziz Boutaflika of caving in to religious groups by watering down reforms for women's rights in the country. The Algerian president ruled against abolishing a regulation that women require permission from a family member or guardian to marry. "It is a grave discrimination against women, who will remain minors for life," Miriam Bilaala, president of the rights group SOS Women in Distress, said. "The long-awaited family code reform will now mean little to Algerian women." Analysts say Boutaflika's decision not to drop the guardian clause from an amendment to the 1984 family code he approved on Tuesday showed religious groups still carried weight after a long-running uprising against a military coup that has claimed the lives of 150,000 people.