The self-gravitating stability of a gas volume embedded in a bounded liquid, under the influence of an electromagnetic force, has been assessed. The pressure in the unperturbed state is not constant due to the self-gravitating force being a long-range force. The stability criterion has been established in its general form and discussed. The liquid-gas radii ratio influences the stabilization. The electromagnetic force, due to the magnetic field pervading throughout the gas and liquid regions, has a strong stabilizing effect for all short and long wavelengths in all modes of perturbation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.