11.   The election was viewed by some commentators as a trial contest by the Israelis, to establish a precedent for wider municipal elections throughout the occupied territories.

12.   Early results indicated a strong showing by the Alliance for Democracy in Mali, the most successful of the parties in the municipal elections in January.

13.   With important municipal elections due in October, they were unwilling to be associated with his highly unpopular economic austerity policies.

14.   Hamas, which also opposed participation, also supported the holding of municipal elections.

15.   A key issue concerned the right of other European Community citizens to vote in municipal elections.

16.   He said that the outgoing government had retreated from its pledge to hold general elections to holding municipal elections.

17.   Denmark also made unilateral declarations on issues such as citizenship and the right to vote at municipal elections.

18.   Shortly afterwards the government announced the holding of the first post-liberation elections -- municipal elections to take place in April and May of the following year.

19.   Although Kostunica expected to come out ahead, the opposition did not expect the large margin of victory, or its success in municipal elections.

20.   Among Arab gulf states, only Qatar has allowed women to vote, in a municipal election in March.