RIYADH, Oct 13: Saudi Arabia announced on Monday it would hold its first elections to vote for municipal councils, seen as the first concrete political reform in the country.

In taking this action, Saudi Arabia has joined a growing trend towards experiments in democracy in other Arab countries. The decision also coincided with the opening of the first human rights conference in Riyadh.

“The council of ministers decided to widen participation of citizens in running local affairs through elections by activating municipal councils, with half the members of each council being elected,” the state news agency, SPA, said.

It did not give further details, but seemed to imply that other members would be appointed by the government. It said preparations for the polls should not take more than one year.

The cabinet statement said the decision “comes to implement King Fahd’s speech about widening popular participation and confirming the country’s progress towards political and administrative reform...and accountability”.—Reuters