Counting underway after historic Bhutan polls
Updated
![The young king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has spent his first years as king overseeing the democratisation of his country. [Reuters]](http://www.abc.net.au/ra/img/news/base/bhutan_king_khesar_rtr.jpg "The young king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has spent his first years as king overseeing the democratisation of his country. [Reuters]")
The young king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has spent his first years as king overseeing the democratisation of his country. [Reuters]
The polls have closed in Bhutan following a landmark election to choose the country's first democratic government.
The vote for the 47 seat national assembly will bring an end to 100 years of absolute monarchy in the small Buddist kingdom, situated in the Himalayas between India and China.
The polls are the culmination of an initiative by Bhutan's royal family to peacefully transform the kingdom into a constitutional monarchy.
An election official says turnout for the polls was heavy and counting is now underway.
