On the municipal elections in Qatar

The first municipal elections in Qatar started on Monday with the participation of women for the first time in the history of Qatar.

Some 22,000 citizens of voting age participated out of the country's population of 100,000 citizens to choose 29 members for the municipal council out of 227 candidates, including six women.

Qatar's new step in the municipal elections constitutes an introduction to efforts made by the government to draw up a permanent constitution and hold parliamentary elections, as stated by the Emir of the country, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani.

The elections were characterized by women's active participation as voters and as candidates, despite the failure of any of the six women candidates to win. The results was aired in a live TV transmission during which names of the 29 winners were read.

It was noted that the results of the municipal elections were announced by the information committee of the Ministry of the Interior under a slogan put up at the site where the results were written reading: "Qatar: a new age."