SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDIS BEGIN TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN JEDDAH DURING THE FINAL STAGE OF ELECTIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Record ID: 189756

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDIS BEGIN TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN JEDDAH DURING THE FINAL STAGE OF ELECTIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA
  • Date: 21st April 2005
  • Summary: (BN10 JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (APRIL 21, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. LV/SLV OF EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION (3 SHOTS) 0.20 2. SLV/CU OF FRONT OF TENT WITH SIGN (2 SHOTS) 0.30 3. SV/SLV OF SECURITY AND PERSONNEL (2 SHOTS) 0.41 4. BACK SHOT OF ADMINISTRATORS AT DESK WITH VOTERS 0.47 5. SLV/SV OF HANDICAPPED VOTER (2 SHOTS) 1.00 6. LV OF POLLING STATION 1.06 7. SV (ARABIC) ADIL HUSSEIN, VOTER, SAYING: "Our priority is the improvement of municipal services. We're voting for more and better services." 1.16 8. SV OF VOTERS REGISTERING (2 SHOTS) 1.32 9. MCU (ARABIC) SHLEIF ALJAD'ANI, VOTER, SAYING: "Reputation is the main factor in my choice of candidate. Many people do not have the means to promote themselves with large-scale campaigns, but those who are known to be good and backed by the people for their integrity." 1.45 10. CLOSE UP/WIDE OF POLLING STATION (2 SHOTS) 1.59 11. SV VOTERS REGISTERING 2.11 12. MCU (ARABIC) FOUAD SHAKER, OBSERVER, SAYING: "Since this is the first time we have elections ion our beloved country I see this is as positive example because of the diversity in Saudi culture and society. I still see these elections as a success compared to other countries." 2.43 13. LV VOTERS SITTING 2.47 14. SLV/LV OF EXTERIOR OF TENT (2 SHOTS) 3.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Reuters ID: LVA6Y6M6V8JK9V56PRWPDS97WX2J
  • Story Text: Saudis begin to cast their votes in Jeddah during
    the final stage of elections in Saudi Arabia.



    Saudi men began to file into polling stations on
    Thursday (April 21, 2005) to cast their votes for the municipal
    elections in the commercial capital of Jeddah. Early in the
    morning voters trickled into this makeshift tent, one of
    many across the city, set up for the final phase of the
    landmark nationwide event.

    Adil Hussein, a wheel-chair bound Saudi national was
    among the early risers. He wants to see positive changes
    for everybody residing in Jeddah after the election process
    is completed. "Our priority is the improvement of
    municipal services. We're voting for more and better
    services," he said.

    The first two rounds of voting in the capital Riyadh
    and eastern and southern regions showed the power of Saudi
    Arabia's Muslim scholars. Candidates with religious support
    stormed to victory in the main cities, defying predictions
    that money and tribal links would decide the outcome.

    Thursday's vote in Jeddah, the most cosmopolitan city
    in the ultra-conservative kingdom, pits the influence of
    the religious sheikhs, who have thrown their support
    behind seven candidates, against Jeddah's relatively
    liberal reputation.

    Voters appeared to give a mixed response to the
    so-called "Golden List" of religiously-backed candidates,
    which has been widely circulated by mobile phone text
    message. But some Saudis are judging candidates'
    credibility by other criteria: "Reputation is the main
    factor in my choice of candidate. Many people do not have
    the means to promote themselves with large-scale campaigns,
    but those who are known to be good and backed by the people
    for their integrity," Says Shleif AlJad'ani, a voter in
    Jeddah.

    Voting was also taking place on Thursday in the holy
    city of Medina, northern Saudi Arabia and the central
    Qassim region, heartland of Saudi Arabia's puritan Wahhabi
    school of Islam. Critics say the elections are largely a cosmetic
    response to reform demands. But diplomats say the vote will
    at least create a mechanism for Saudis to channel concerns
    and complaints.


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