Bahrain is to hold parliamentary elections for the first time in more than 25 years. Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa - the ruler of the Gulf state - also set May ninth as the day for municipal elections that will for the first time see women running for office.

Sheikh Hamad made the announcement of the October 24 elections in a nationwide televised speech Thursday - the first anniversary of constitutional amendments drawn by a committee appointed by the emir. The long-awaited elections are major steps in democratic reforms that have turned Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy, with Sheikh Hamad as its king.

Sheikh Hamad took power Bahrain in 1999 after the death of his father and pledged to gradually restore a fully elected parliament. Bahrain's mainly Shi'ite opposition has been demanding the restoration of parliament since it was dissolved in 1975 and replaced by an advisory council - the Shura - appointed by the emir.

Bahrain's government is dominated by Sunni Muslims, while the country has a Shi'ite majority population Analysts say that although the amendments allow public participation in government, the king will continue to have the final say the country's affairs.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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