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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bahrain holds disputed election amid Shia boycott calls | Bahrain holds disputed election amid Shia boycott calls |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Voters in Bahrain have taken part in the Gulf kingdom's first parliamentary elections since protests erupted in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011. | |
| The government called on all Bahrainis to cast their ballots. | |
| But the Shia-led opposition boycotted Saturday's legislative and municipal elections, calling them an attempt to entrench "absolute rule". | |
| Despite being ruled by a Sunni monarchy, the majority of the Bahraini population are Shias. | Despite being ruled by a Sunni monarchy, the majority of the Bahraini population are Shias. |
| Protesters took to the streets in 2011 to demand greater rights, but the government, backed by Saudi tanks, moved in to crush dissent. | Protesters took to the streets in 2011 to demand greater rights, but the government, backed by Saudi tanks, moved in to crush dissent. |
| Talks to resolve the situation have since collapsed and unrest has continued. | Talks to resolve the situation have since collapsed and unrest has continued. |
| 'Sham' | 'Sham' |
| A coalition of opposition groups has called the poll a "sham" and demanded an elected prime minister who is independent from the al-Khalifa monarchy. | A coalition of opposition groups has called the poll a "sham" and demanded an elected prime minister who is independent from the al-Khalifa monarchy. |
| The BBC's Mouna Ba in Manama says the government was hoping for a strong turnout to back up its contention that the opposition represented a small minority of Bahrainis. | |
| Information Minister Sameera Ebrahim Bin Rajab said the "door to dialogue will never be shut" but added: "Violence is not allowed. It is tantamount to terrorism." | Information Minister Sameera Ebrahim Bin Rajab said the "door to dialogue will never be shut" but added: "Violence is not allowed. It is tantamount to terrorism." |
| Bahrain is of strategic importance to Washington and hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet. | Bahrain is of strategic importance to Washington and hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet. |
| Correspondents say the election is also being closely watched by Saudi Arabia, which has a large Shia Muslim population in its Eastern Province. | Correspondents say the election is also being closely watched by Saudi Arabia, which has a large Shia Muslim population in its Eastern Province. |