People in Bahrain have voted polls in run-off elections to decide how much power the opposition will have in the new parliament.
Bahrain's Shia Muslims have made gains in the second round of elections, but failed to win control of parliament.
In the first round, 40% of the seats went to a Shia group that is contesting the polls for the first time.
Shia parties have won a total of 18 out of 40 seats. The rest went to minority Sunnis, who traditionally dominate government in the Gulf State.
Bahrain's has a Shia Muslim majority population but the country is controlled by the Sunni minority.
Liberals in both camps fared badly, leaving Bahrain with an overall Islamist-dominated parliament.
Final power rests with King Hamad and his appointed council which can veto any legislation from parliament.
Final power rests with King Hamad and his appointed council which can veto any legislation from parliament.
Last week's first round gave the Shia Al Wefaq group 16 out of the 17 seats it contested.
Last week's first round gave the Shia Al Wefaq group 16 seats. On Saturday's second round the Shia opposition gained another two seats.
That result has made the region sit up and take note of what the relatively fledgling election process in the Gulf can produce, says the BBC's correspondent in the region, Julia Wheeler.
Officials reported a high turnout.
Limited powers
It was the first time Shia groups had taken part in a Bahraini election.
The Sunni-Shia division might be more visible, and at times more violent, in Bahrain than in other countries of the southern Gulf - but that does not mean it is not an issue elsewhere, says our correspondent.
They boycotted the first parliamentary poll in 2002
In Bahrain at least 40% of the new parliament will be from the Shia group which has campaigned on an opposition ticket.
This is a first for the Sunni dominated country.
Al Wefaq's last candidate is trying to make it 17 out of 17 in his run-off vote.
The group is hoping other opposition candidates will also win, strengthening the anti-government voice in parliament.
Ultimately though, power rests with King Hamad, his ruling family and the appointed Shura Council, which must agree to any legislation put forward by the elected parliament.
This lack of real power is something the newly elected opposition MPs have highlighted.
They are likely, our correspondent says, to want more of a say in running the country by the time the next elections are fought.
