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Bahrain Shiite candidates, including 3 women, claim seats in parliamentary elections

Associated Press
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A Bahraini man votes in Manama, Bahrain, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Bahraini voters are returning to the polls Saturday for a runoff election being boycotted by the opposition for the country's first new parliament since widespread Arab Spring-inspired protests nearly four years ago. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) (The Associated Press)

Bahraini supporters of candidate Mohammed Tayeb, pictured on banner, wait for election results at his campaign tent in Hamad Town, Bahrain, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Bahraini voters returned to the polls Saturday for a runoff election being boycotted by the opposition for the country's first new parliament since widespread Arab Spring-inspired protests nearly four years ago. Banner reads: "Welcome to campaign headquarters." (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) (The Associated Press)

A Bahraini woman walks with pictures of the nation's top Shiite Muslim cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim, on her umbrella in a march of support held in the rain after midday prayers in Diraz, Bahrain, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Many Bahraini Shiite Muslims responded to a call to head to Diraz for midday prayers to show support for Qassim, whose home was raided by police earlier this week. Arabic writing reads: "I sacrifice my soul for you." (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) (The Associated Press)

Fourteen Shiite candidates have won seats in Bahraini parliamentary elections that were boycotted by the country's Shiite-dominated opposition.

Among the winners in the election results released Sunday were three women. The results follow runoff elections Saturday for the 40-seat lower house of parliament in the tiny Gulf island nation.

The elections were the country's first full parliamentary elections since widespread Arab Spring-inspired protests led by the country's Shiite majority erupted in February 2011.

Bahrain is a Sunni Muslim-ruled Western ally that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and is part of the U.S.-led coalition striking the Islamic State group. It continues to face street clashes and other low-level unrest as Shiites press for greater political freedoms.