MUSCAT, Oct 4: Omanis headed to polling stations on Saturday to vote for Shura Council representatives in the Gulf Arab state’s first free elections.

Last year, Sultan Qaboos bin Said extended voting rights to all citizens aged 21 or over to end restrictions that allowed only a quarter of the 1.8 million population to vote for the 83-member consultative council.

Voters were previously hand-picked by the government from among tribal leaders, intellectuals and prominent businessmen.

The move was seen by diplomats as a step towards wider political reform in the conservative country.

The council has no legislative powers and mainly advises the government on economic matters. It has no say on issues relating to defence, security or foreign affairs. Omanis appeared to favor fellow tribesmen or relatives when they voted to give their 83-member advisory council a fifth three-year term.—Reuters