Female from the West leading Middle East state (5)
I believe the answer is:
woman
'female from the west' is the definition.
'woman' can be an answer for 'female' (woman is a kind of female). I am not sure about the 'from the west' bit.
'leading middle east state' is the wordplay.
'leading' becomes 'showing' (showing is a kind of leading).
'middle' indicates the central letters.
'east state' becomes 'oman' (Oman is a country. I am not sure about the 'east' bit.).
The middle of 'showing' is 'w'.
'w'+'oman'='WOMAN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for woman that I've seen before include "Mature female" , "With 1a [NEW] a freedom fighter" , "Lady" , "person not going on stag-night" , "See 16" .)