(MENAFN – The Peninsula) Bahrain went to the polls yesterday for its first legislative elections since a failed pro-democracy uprising in 2011, with the opposition boycotting the vote in the tiny Gulf monarchy.

The country remains divided nearly four years after security forces in the Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom crushed Arab Spring-inspired protests led by majority Shias.

Al Wefaq, the main opposition group, warned on the eve of the vote that failure by Bahrain’s rulers to ease their “monopoly” on power could trigger a surge in violence.

In the Shia village of Sanabes, west of Manama, clashes erupted between youths and security forces in the afternoon, a reporter said.

Security forces fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, some of whom were masked and armed with petrol bombs.

Voting had been due to last 12 hours until 1700 GMT, but this was later extended for two more hours, according to state media, in a likely bid to boost turnout.

The move came after officials said only 10 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots two hours before polling stations were to have been closed.

Almost 350,000 Bahrainis have been called to elect a 40-member parliament, with most of the 266 candidates Sunnis.

The vote has been denounced by critics as a farce.

After authorities crushed a month-long uprising calling for democratic reform, Al Wefaq withdraw its 18 lawmakers.