BERN, Switzerland (Reuter) - The World Health Organization said yesterday it is developing a new "virucide" that could rank alongside the condom in the battle against AIDS and finally give women a chance to protect themselves against HIV infection.

The United Nations agency, which co-ordinates the worldwide fight against the disease, said scientists, drug companies and regulators have all backed research into a new gel or foam spray that would destroy the HIV virus in women's vaginas.