Jordan votes in historic elections

on 23/01/2013 09:46:13

Jordanians have started voting in parliamentary elections touted as the start of a democratisation process that will see the king hand over considerable powers to the newly chosen legislature.

Polling stations opened at 7am local time but voting began later because of computer problems, according to Abdul-Illah Khatib, head of the Independent Electoral Commission.

He says at least 125,000 Jordanians, or 5% of the 2.3 million who registered to vote, cast ballots in the first two hours of voting.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan's largest opposition group, is boycotting the polls in protest against an electoral law it says favours pro-king loyalists. Four other smaller leftist parties are also staying away.