From: Adam 

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=18603

"Bahrain gets Islamist-dominated parliament"

"Saturday's second round ended with Islamists controlling 30 of
parliament's 40 seats in a country considered liberal by the standards of
the conservative Gulf region, and whose government is a close US ally and
hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

But while Sunni Islamists are supporters of the government, the main
political formation of the Shiite majority in Sunni-ruled Bahrain which had
boycotted the last elections in 2002 made a spectacular entry into
parliament on an opposition platform.

The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA) headed by charismatic Shiite
cleric Sheikh Ali Salman grabbed 16 seats in the first round of the
elections on November 25.

On Saturday, the INAA won the 17th seat it had been certain to take in a
constituency where two of its members faced off as independents, according
to results announced on state television early Sunday.

The Sunni National Islamic Tribune Association, which represents the Muslim
Brotherhood, clinched three mandates in the second round to regain the
share of seven seats it held in the outgoing parliament.

Its Salafi ally, the Assala (Authenticity) Association, gained one more
seat Saturday to claim a total of five mandates."


Adam

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