King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifah, who chaired a Cabinet meeting attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah bin Salman Al-Khalifah and Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifah, urged voters to turn out in large numbers for the polls. “Decision-making and participating (in the vote) ensures the continuity of the democratic process in the Kingdom and enhances the serious work for offering better services for the citizens,” BNA cited him as saying.

Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, has the only elected Parliament in the region besides Kuwait, but its powers are limited as its bills need to be approved by an upper house whose members are appointed by the king.

The biggest Shiite bloc, Al-Wefaq, said it would field candidates for up to 24 of 40 seats but does not expect a significant change in its numbers. Al-Wefaq won 18 seats in 2006 in its first foray into national electoral politics after boycotting a 2002 parliamentary poll. It currently holds 17 seats after passing one seat to an independent.

The mainly Shiite Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy broke ranks with Al Wefaq before the 2006 election, which it boycotted. Haq will not take part in this year’s poll.

The Sunni Al Asalah Islamic Society won eight seats in 2006, and it coordinated its candidates with Al-Menbar National Islamic Society, which won seven seats in the same election.

The leftist National Democratic Action Society, or Waad, is a secular group. It took part in the 2006 elections but failed to win any seats. Female academic Munira Fakhro plans to run again for the group.

The state news agency, BNA, said municipal elections would be held the same day.