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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Saudi Arabia: First woman councillor elected | Saudi Arabia: First woman councillor elected |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman has won a seat on a municipal council for the first time in Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom lifted its bar on women taking part in elections. | A woman has won a seat on a municipal council for the first time in Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom lifted its bar on women taking part in elections. |
| Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi won a seat in Mecca province in Saturday's vote, the electoral commission said. | Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi won a seat in Mecca province in Saturday's vote, the electoral commission said. |
| The election was the first where women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates, and is being viewed as a landmark in the conservative kingdom. | The election was the first where women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates, and is being viewed as a landmark in the conservative kingdom. |
| Saudi women still face many curbs in public life, including driving. | Saudi women still face many curbs in public life, including driving. |
| A total of 978 women registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men. | A total of 978 women registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men. |
| Officials said about 130,000 women had registered to vote in Saturday's poll, compared with 1.35 million men. | Officials said about 130,000 women had registered to vote in Saturday's poll, compared with 1.35 million men. |
| Quiz: Life as a woman in Saudi Arabia | Quiz: Life as a woman in Saudi Arabia |
| In pictures: Saudi women vote | In pictures: Saudi women vote |
| The disparity was attributed by female voters to bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transport, the AFP news agency says. | The disparity was attributed by female voters to bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transport, the AFP news agency says. |
| Female candidates were also not allowed to address male voters directly during campaigning. Turnout was high, state media reported. | Female candidates were also not allowed to address male voters directly during campaigning. Turnout was high, state media reported. |
| Ms Oteibi won a seat on the council in Madrakah in Mecca province, the president of the election commission, Osama al-Bar, told the official SPA news agency. | Ms Oteibi won a seat on the council in Madrakah in Mecca province, the president of the election commission, Osama al-Bar, told the official SPA news agency. |
| She was running against seven men and two women, Mr Bar was quoted as saying. | She was running against seven men and two women, Mr Bar was quoted as saying. |
| Elections of any kind are rare in the Saudi kingdom - Saturday was only the third time in history that Saudis had gone to the polls. | Elections of any kind are rare in the Saudi kingdom - Saturday was only the third time in history that Saudis had gone to the polls. |
| There were no elections in the 40 years between 1965 and 2005. | There were no elections in the 40 years between 1965 and 2005. |
| The decision to allow women to take part was taken by the late King Abdullah and is seen as a key part of his legacy. | The decision to allow women to take part was taken by the late King Abdullah and is seen as a key part of his legacy. |
| In announcing the reforms, King Abdullah said women in Saudi Arabia "have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice". | In announcing the reforms, King Abdullah said women in Saudi Arabia "have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice". |
| Before he died in January, he appointed 30 women to the country's top advisory Shura Council. | Before he died in January, he appointed 30 women to the country's top advisory Shura Council. |
| There were 2,100 council seats available in Saturday's vote. An additional 1,050 seats are appointed with approval from the king. | There were 2,100 council seats available in Saturday's vote. An additional 1,050 seats are appointed with approval from the king. |
| Are you in Saudi Arabia? Did you vote in the election? What do you think about the election of the first woman councillor? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments. | |
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