HIGHLIGHTS: No Women Were Elected||22 Seats Go to a Runoff||Vote, Part of a Process to Transform Nation From Emirate to a Constitutional Monarchy||STORY: Voters cast ballots Thursday in Bahrain's first election for representative bodies in nearly 30 years - another step in the Gulf nation's transformation from absolute monarchy to democracy, and the first time Bahraini women were allowed to vote and run for office. (Read photo caption)

However, no women were elected to any of the 50 municipal seats up for grabs, said the information minister, Nabeel Al Hamer . Of some 306 candidates, 30 were women.

Male candidates won 28 of the 50 open seats, Justice Minister Sheik Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said early Friday. The other 22 seats went to a runoff, which was to be held next week.

Officials said turnout was heavier than expected, but did not immediately release voter figures.

More than 200,000 residents were eligible to vote, including citizens of neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council states and foreigners owning property in the kingdom. Bahrain has a population of about 650,000 people.

A candidate needs to acquire more than 50 percent of the votes in their districts to be elected.

Thursday's leap toward democracy was being closely watched throughout the Gulf. Bahrain's eastern neighbor, Qatar, is the only other Gulf Arab state that allows women to run for office. Kuwait also holds elections, but bars women from running for office.

Bahrain's municipal elections were part of a process initiated by the king, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, last year to transform the Gulf island nation from a traditional emirate, where he held absolute power, to a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament.

Bahrain, which became independent from Britain in 1971, last held elections for a representative body in 1973 when people voted for the National Assembly. That assembly was dissolved two years later.

PHOTO CAPTION

An unidentified Bahraini man casting his vote in the municipal election in Muharraq, Bahrain Thursday May 9, 2002. Thirty-one woman among 304 candidates are contesting the election. (Ap Photo/Ali Fraidoon)
- May 09 6:07 AM ET