Bahrainis vote in second round of parliamentary election

By

Bahrainis voted in the second round of a parliamentary election on Saturday, a poll boycotted by the tiny Gulf monarchy's Shi'ite-led opposition which accuses the government of gerrymandering and says parliament lacks powers.

Voters have returned to the polls in 34 of Bahrain's 40 constituencies for the parliament, which has limited direct powers in a country where ultimate decision making resides with the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family.

Al Wefaq, the main opposition group which has widespread support among the country's Shi'ite majority, said on Oct. 11 it would not take part, citing parliament's lack of powers and what it said were constituency boundaries that favored Sunnis.

Bahrain has been in political turmoil since mass protests broke out in February 2011 demanding more democracy before they were put down by the security forces. Small demonstrations have continued in Shi'ite areas.

A second round of voting was needed in constituencies where no candidate secured more than half the votes last week. Bahrain said participation in the first round was 53 percent.

Bahrain, an ally of fellow Sunni monarchy Saudi Arabia and home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, accuses Shi'ite Gulf power Iran of stirring up unrest and says it has made many reforms since 2011. Iran denies those charges.

Tags
Election, Sunni Muslim, Shi'ite, Bahrain
Join the Discussion
More News
Alexandrea G. Ring

Pregnant Indiana Mother 'Threw' Her Baby Daughter After She Cried, Police Say

A Teen Girl Has Just Become the Youngest Person to Pass the California Bar Exam. The Previous Record Holder Was Her Brother

Florida Mom Accused of Drowning Daughter in Bathtub, Then Chasing

Florida Mom Accused of Drowning Daughter in Bathtub, Then Chasing Witnesses Around Apartment with a Hammer

Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr.

Texas Doctor Who Poisoned Patients With Tainted IV Bags Learns His Fate

Real Time Analytics