Bahrain has held its first parliamentary elections since the beginning of the protests in 2011.

The Shia-led opposition called for voters to boycott the elections, despite pleas from the government for all Bahrainis to participate.

Shia groups said the elections would only further strengthen the power of the Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling family.

According to local press, 51.5 per cent of the 349,713 eligible voters cast votes in the parliamentary elections.

This compares with a total turnout in the 2010 elections of about 67 per cent.

Without representatives from the opposition Wefaq party standing for election, candidates were mainly made up of a few independents and members of the Salafi party.

Shia Muslims account for the majority of the Bahraini population and many say they are marginalised by the Sunni-led government.

Protests broke out in 2011, with demonstrators calling for more rights including an independent judiciary and reforms to the security forces.

Although the demonstrations were crushed by the government, with the support of Saudi Arabia, the country has seen continued political unrest, which has hampered economic growth.