Bahrain's main Shia opposition group have won almost half the seats in Bahrain's parliament, although the gains are expected to have limited impact in the Sunni-run state where the assembly has little clout.
The Gulf Arab country's Shia opposition group Wefaq won all the 18 seats it contested, out of a total of 40, election officials announced as they read out results from yesterday’s poll.
It held 17 seats in the outgoing assembly.
The result was expected as the districts the group contested consisted mainly of Shia populations.
The opposition says the government has apportioned districts to prevent the Shia opposition from gaining a majority in the assembly.
The run-up to the vote was overshadowed by a broad security crackdown against some Shia opposition groups in August that also targeted bloggers and human rights activists.
Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, has a Shia Muslim majority population but is governed by the Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty.
Sunni groups allied to the government, Al Asalah and Al Menbar, as well as independents, were also contesting.
The two Sunni Islamist groups Al Asalah and Al Menbar that held a combined 15 seats in the outgoing assembly looked set to lose some of their seats to independents as they only won three seats directly, with another seven of their candidates having to enter a second round of voting next Saturday.
The justice ministry said turnout was 67% of eligible voters, down from 72% in 2006.
Bahrain's parliament has limited powers as its bills need to pass an upper house whose members are appointed by the king.
Ultimate power in the country rests with the ruling family.
