Bahrain to crack down on unproven poll criticism

MANAMA, Nov 19 (Reuters) Bahrain will crack down on people who question the fairness of elections without proof, an official said today, a week before municipal and parliamentary polls in the Gulf state.

''Those who spread rumours about the integrity of the election or other candidates without proof will face prosecution and imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to 500 dinars 1,327 dollars,'' election spokeswoman Ahdeya Ahmed told Reuters.

Opposition groups, who are participating in the November. 25 elections after boycotting historic 2002 polls, accuse the authorities of gerrymandering, and allowing voters from any area to use certain polling booths, a move they say leads to fraud.

Election officials deny both charges, adding that candidates and their representatives will be allowed to oversee the voting and counting process. Bahraini authorities have also set up an election hotline to receive complaints.

''We challenge any candidate who believes in these allegations to provide proof, to present any name of those so-called 'roving voters','' Ahmed was quoted as saying by Akhbar Alkhaleej newspaper.

''The Bahraini elections enjoy all safeguards to guarantee their fairness ... Doubtful rumours seek to undermine the election process and give it a false negative image,'' the paper reported her as saying.

Bahrain's biggest opposition group represents Bahrain's Shi'ites, the majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, who complain that a program of mass naturalisation of Sunni foreigners will give the Sunni-led government an unfair advantage.

Bahraini officials deny this, saying that relatively few people have been naturalised and Shi'ites were well represented among them.

REUTERS MQA RK1721