Islamist-dominated opposition groups and their allies secured nearly half of the Parliament’s seats in Kuwait, official results showed, raising fears of fresh political wrangling in the oil-rich Gulf state.

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The opposition and its allies won 24 of the assembly’s 50 seats, the electoral authority announced following Saturday’s snap election called after a dispute over the hiking of petrol prices.

Opposition groups contested Saturday’s election after a four-year boycott protesting the government’s amendment of the key voting system.

Around half of the successful opposition MPs are from a Muslim Brotherhood-linked group and Salafists.

Only one woman was elected and the Muslim Shia minority was reduced to six seats from nine in the previous house. A third of the new parliament are new, young members.

The polls saw a turnout of around 70 percent.