Secular candidates won a slight majority over Islamists in voting for 21 seats in Bahrain's parliament, while two women who hoped to make history by getting elected both lost, according to preliminary results declared Thursday.
Initial results indicated that 12 secularists and nine Islamist candidates won seats, AP reported. The first round of parliamentary elections, the first in Bahrain in nearly 30 years, were held last week.
Commenting on the failure of the two women to win seats, Information Minister Nabil al-Hamer said: "I am personally very sad at the outcome. But ... we accept the results."
Al-Hamer disclosed the initial results but the figures on most races were not released. Final results were not expected until Friday at the earliest. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
