Bhutan goes to polls to end monarchy

Thousands of Bhutanese are voting today to elect a National Council, the final stage before democratic elections that will end nearly 100 years of absolute monarchy in the secluded Himalayan country.

The vote caps a whirlwind year of transformation for the tiny kingdom since the monarch declared last December he was abdicating in favour of his 26-year-old son and ushering in democracy. Since then, the people of Bhutan have voted twice in mock elections to ensure they understand the process.