Bahrain registers 51.5 pct turnout for national polls

MANAMA (Xinhua) - Bahrain registered a total of 51.5 percent of voters turnout despite opposition groups boycotting from the parliament and municipal elections.

Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa said at a press conference after the polling was closed late on Saturday night that the boycott calls of the polls did not affect the process.

"The turnout today was 51.5 percent compared to the 67.7 per cent turnout in 2010 elections," said the minister indicating the boycott represented only 16 percent of the electorates.

Bahrain's main opposition group Al Wefaq National Islamic Society on Saturday claimed the boycott affected the process and its secretary general Shaikh Ali Salman called for the United Nations to organize a fair and transparent polls in Bahrain, "We are determined to continue this peaceful struggle until we achieve a democratic civil humanitarian state," Shaikh Salman said in a statement.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that a strong police presence was visible in Bahrain throughout the day and police were on heightened alert for any possible trouble.

The ministry confirmed that it will continue to secure the election process and take appropriate steps against lawbreakers. A total of 349,713 were eligible to vote this elections to choose 39 MPs from 266 candidates and 29 municipal councillors from 153 candidates.

The elections were monitored by over 300 observers from eight local non-governmental organizations.