Bahrain held its parliamentary elections Saturday, the first since a failed protest against the monarchy in 2011.
Bahrainis turned out to cast their ballots, in spite of the main opposition party of the country, Al Wefaq boycotting the elections, Xinhua reported.
Opposition groups, led by the Al Wefaq had claimed that the Shiite majority in Bahrain is discriminated by the Sunni monarchy and that the parliament is subject to the king's wishes and lacks any real power.
Bahrain's Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, praised the "high turnout" of voters.
A total of 419 candidates, including 34 women, are running in these parliamentary and municipal elections.
As many as 53 polling stations across the country helped the voters cast their ballots smoothly.
The interior ministry of the country said that security measures have been beefed up in all areas to secure the elections.
There were minor clashes in some villages, but the security forces were able to control the situation.
