Manama: Bahrain's new parliament will be dominated by Islamists who might control up to two-thirds of the seats, according to official results announced yesterday.
Newcomer Al Wefaq, the largest Shiite society in Bahrain, has won 16 of the 40 seats and may increase the tally to 17 if their remaining candidate wins in the run-off on December 2.
The group won 18 municipal seats in Saturday's polls.
Sunni groups Salafi Al Asala and Muslim Brotherhood offshoot Al Menbar each won four seats, making it a total of 24 seats for Islamists from both sects in the first round.
No women victors
Most observers had expected the Islamists to win big, but not as overwhelmingly as they did. Pro-government independent MPs and liberal hopefuls were disappointed as voters in opposition strongholds turned out in large numbers. Voter turnout was at 72 per cent according to election officials, an increase of 19 per cent over the 2002 elections.
None of the 17 women running on Saturday won a seat. One woman, Latifa Al Qaoud, won unchallenged.
