What, You Wanted Free and Fair Elections?

Boston.com / News / World / Middle East / Cleric-backed Saudis prevail: "Candidates backed by Islamic clerics won races in the Saudi capital in the kingdom's first regular balloting, an election observer said yesterday. But it was too early to say whether this represented a trend in the landmark municipal elections, which will be spread across three months." [--snip--]

A losing candidate objected to the results, arguing that the circulated list violated electoral law by claiming religious backing. [--snip--]

Only men were allowed to vote Thursday and balloting was confined to Riyadh and adjacent districts.

Well, we Blues know how the poor folks in Riyadh feel.