King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain has reappointed Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and asked him to form a new cabinet following the first parliamentary elections since the civil unrest swept through the country in 2011.

The new cabinet is expected to contain some major changes as Bahrain rebalances its budget after the drop in oil prices to around $70 a barrel.

The king also issued a decree on 3 December annulling the position of minister without portfolio (state minister) and relieved advisers holding this post from the courts of the King and Crown Prince.

Bahrain held parliamentary elections to the Council of Deputies on 22 November. Most seats were won by pro-government independents, but Sunni Islamist parties lost seats.

The Shia opposition called for a boycott of the elections, claiming they would serve to strengthen the power of the Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling family. However, turn-out was more than 51 per cent, according to the electoral commission. Turn-out was also high for second-round run-offs for 34 of the 40 seats, held on 29 November.