Ruler of Bahrain ratifies national charter approved by people 's referendum
Bahrain, Politics, 2/17/2001

Ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Friday in al- Manama ratified the national work program approved by the Bahraini people in the referendum held on February 12 and 15.

The Gulf News Agency said that Sheikh Hamad expressed in a message he read after announcing the results of the referendum his happiness to ratify the national work charter after the will if the people of Bahrain assured accepting it as a guidance for national work.

The Emir of Bahrain stressed that the Charter renews Bahrain's democratic march and restores back parliamentary life to it under the constitution and the democratic system.

Meantime, Bahrain's minister of state and the Islamic affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khaled al-Khaleifa has announced that the general result of the referendum on the national work Charter reached 98.4%.

The Gulf News Agency said that Sheikh Abdullah explained in a statement on Friday that number of citizens invited for the referendum was 217579 and that number of those who cast their votes was 196262 and the null votes were 1374 and number of correct ( meeting the conditions of voting) is 194888 and number of votes approving the Charter was 191790.

To this end, sources close to the committee of selecting votes reported that more than 95% of the participants in the referendum for the national charter which was held on Wednesday and Thursday agreed to establish constitutional monarchy in Bahrain.

The Bahraini daily al-Ayam ( the days) quoted the same sources saying that the rate of participation in the referendum reached 82%, noting that more than 191,000 voters cast their votes out of 217,000 of registered names.

During the referendum the Bahraini people were invited to cast their votes concerning the national charter which states to establish a constitutional monarchy system in this Arab Gulf country, at the initiative of prince Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa.

Previous Stories:
  Bahraini opposition voices backing to reforms   (2/16/2001)
  The first referendum on political reform in Bahrain   (2/15/2001)
  Bahrain 's foreign minister gets a message from Iranian counterpart   (2/14/2001)

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