Girls on Top: Independent Women II Quiz

Answer: Edith Cresson

Mme Cresson was the French prime minister 1991-92. She went on to become an EU Commissioner but was at the centre of the corruption and mismanagement scandal which led to the resignation of the entire 20-member Commission in 1999.

Answer: Kim Campbell, Canada

Kim Campbell became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and Canada's prime minister in June 1993. However, in November of the same year she led her party to a disastrous defeat in the General Election.

Answer: Finland

Tarja Kaarina Halonen became the Finnish president in 2000. In March 2003 Anneli Jaatteenaki became prime minister but resigned the following June as result of a scandal over leaked documents. However, she was cleared of any wrongdoing in a trial in March 2004.

Answer: Haiti

Mme Trouillot was Haiti's first female high court judge. During her period in office (1990-91) she was held hostage during a coup attempt.

Answer: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, president of The Philippines

Gloria Arroyo is the daughter of the former Philippine president, Diosdado Macapagal.

Other widows who have followed their husbands to power include President Janet Jagan of Guyana and President Mireya Moscoso of Panama. Corazon Aquino who became president of the Philippines after the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos was the widow of the murdered democracy campaigner, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino - she survived eight coup attempts during her time in office.

Answer: Switzerland

Switzerland's presidency rotates on an annual basis. Ms Dreifuss served as president 1999-2000.

Answer: Guyana

Mrs Jagan became prime minister in 1997 and president later that year. She resigned in 1999 following a heart attack.

Lidia Gueiler Tejada was president of Bolivia 1979-80 and Rosalia Arteaga Serrano was acting-president of Ecuador for two days between the resignation of her predecessor and the selection of a replacement by the country's legislature.

Answer: Malta

Mrs Barbara had previously been a member of the Maltese parliament and had held various government posts including acting prime minister before becoming president.

Answer: Indira Gandhi

India Gandhi was PM of India 1966-78 & 1980-84, the daughter of one PM (Jawaharlal Nehru 1947-1964) and the mother of another (Rajiv Gandhi 1984-1989). In June 1984 Mrs Gandhi ordered the storming of the Golden Temple at Armritsar by the army to flush out Sikh insurgents. The following October she was murdered by her own Sikh bodyguards.

Answer: Golda Meir, Israel

Golda Meir became Israeli prime minister in 1969. In 1973 Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria who were supported by several other nations. Although Israel was ultimately successful in what became known as the Yom Kippur War it had come close to defeat and Mrs Meir resigned the following year.