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First day ends in UAE elections | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Polling has ended on the first day of landmark national elections in the United Arab Emirates, in which under 1% of citizens are allowed to vote. | |
Voters hand-picked by the government are choosing half of the Federal National Council, an advisory body. | |
Voting began in two of the UAE's seven emirates, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. Other emirates vote during the coming week. | |
Early results confirmed a woman, Amal Abdullah al-Kubaissi, as the winner of one of four seats in Abu Dhabi. | |
"This is an honour I will carry... all my life. It is proof that the Emirati people are [politically] aware," she told the AFP news agency. | |
The candidates standing for election were also hand-picked by the Emirati government. | |
However, ministers have said the vote is the start of a wider process that will see participation extended. | |
The BBC's Julia Wheeler, in Dubai, says it is also expected that the powers of the assembly will change, with the first council debating a new constitution. | The BBC's Julia Wheeler, in Dubai, says it is also expected that the powers of the assembly will change, with the first council debating a new constitution. |
VOTING DATES AND LOCATIONS Saturday 16th - Abu Dhabi, FujairahMonday 18th - Dubai, Ras Al KhaimahWednesday 20th - Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain Polling stations in the last of the Gulf Arab monarchies to introduce elections opened at 0800 local time (0400 GMT) and closed at 1900 local time (1500 GMT). | |
The voting is taking place in the different emirates over Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. | The voting is taking place in the different emirates over Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. |
The voters, who number fewer than 7,000 men and women, have been selected by the rulers of the seven emirates which make up the UAE. | The voters, who number fewer than 7,000 men and women, have been selected by the rulers of the seven emirates which make up the UAE. |