Islamist parties have again performed strongly in the second and final round of Bahrain's first democratic election in 30 years.

Of the 20 local council seats contested in the run-off vote yesterday on Thursday, Islamist candidates won more than half.

In the first round last Thursday, Islamist groups won about two-thirds of the 30 seats contested.

These were the first Bahraini elections in which women have been allowed both to stand for election and to vote.

None was elected.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service