Jordans elect new parliament in cautious move toward reform

Jordanians have begun voting for a new parliament under revised rules meant to strengthen political parties, in an election seen as a small step toward democratic reform.

More than 4 million residents of the pro-Western monarchy were eligible to vote Tuesday for a 130-member parliament, with 27 seats reserved for women, Christians and ethnic minorities.

Jordan's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, ran for the first time since 2007, after boycotting elections in 2010 and 2013 over a "one man, one vote" system it complained was favoring King Abdullah II's traditional tribal supporters.