Bhutan holds its first elections

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is holding its first parliamentary elections today after a century of direct rule by the monarchy.

The elections will leave Bhutan's young king with a more ceremonial role.

The vote is for the upper house of parliament, the National Council, and is part of the country's introduction of parliamentary democracy.

It is part of a radical modernisation plan for the isolated Himalayan kingdom.

The plan was devised by the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

As part of the transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy, he handed power to his 27-year-old Oxford University-educated son in 2006.