Omanis to Vote for Consultative Council

Omanis vote Saturday to elect the powerless Majlis al-Shura consultative council, which Sultan Qaboos pledged to vest with some authorities in response to unprecedented social unrest.

Some 518,000 eligible voters out of about two million Omanis have been called to take part in the polls in which 1,133 candidates, including 77 women, are competing for four-year terms in the 84-seat council.

But the eligible voters, who are required to register to be able to cast their ballots, have shown little interest in the election, according to the head of the electoral commission, Mohammed al-Busaidi.

The lack of interest can be attributed to the "delay in announcing (new) authorities," said Shukur al-Ghumari of the all-appointed Council of State, the 57-seat upper chamber that forms along with the Majlis, the Council of Oman.

Oman's Sultan Qaboos in March ordered a study to extend the council's powers to be completed in 30 days, but nothing has been announced since.

"The government should have announced the powers (of the Majlis) before the Saturday elections," said Ghumari.

Watchdogs have not been invited to monitor the elections which will be covered by local and international media as well as civil society organizations, Busaidi said.

The council, which was created in 1991, has the authority to question ministers and advises the government on socio-economic issues but has no legislative power or role in defense, internal security or foreign policy.

Political parties remain banned.

The normally peaceful sultanate was caught up earlier this year in the protests sweeping the Arab world, with demonstrators taking to the streets in late February to demand improved living conditions.

At the start of March, Sultan Qaboos announced a cabinet reshuffle and the creation of 50,000 jobs. Demonstrators insisted their protests were aimed at "corrupt" officials and not at Qaboos, who has ruled for 40 years.

Oman, a non-OPEC member, was the first Gulf Arab state to give women the right to vote and stand for public office in 1994.

Elections are becoming more frequent in the Gulf, as Arab monarchies take tentative steps towards meeting demands for reform.

But only Kuwait and Bahrain have elected parliaments and in the latter the elected chamber shares legislative power with an appointed upper house.