Bahrain dissolves Shoura council to prepare for parliamentary elections

The King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Saturday ordered dissolving of the appointed Shoura council and thereby paved the way before making free parliamentary elections for the first time in 27 years.

The royal decree which was broadcast by the Bahrain's news agency said:" We.. ordered the solving of the Shoura council.. And the prime minister has to implement this order as from the date of its issuance and is to be published in the official newspaper." The royal decree also stated to cancel the Emir's decree issues in 1992, and amended in 1996 concerning the foundation of the Shoura council.

Sheikh Hamad who assumed power in Bahrain in 1999 after the death of his father announced on Saturday converting the " Emirate of Bahrain" into a "constitutional Kingdom" and declared himself as a King. He decided to hold parliamentary elections on October 24th this year.