Saeed al-Burshaid, a candidate for Qatar's inaugural Shura Council election, holds a campaign rally in al-Wakrah on September 19 KARIM JAAFAR AFP
DOHA: The modest crowd listens respectfully as TV actor Saeed al-Burshaid gives his first stump speech ahead of Qatar's inaugural legislative polls, an unprecedented exercise in democracy in the resource-rich monarchy.
Burshaid gesticulates passionately as he builds to a crescendo in a nondescript and largely undecorated sports hall south of Doha, watched by a few dozen people sipping tea served by waiters.