BAHRAIN: Bahrain's largest opposition party holds mass rally in Maqsha following the detention of Al Wefaq's deputy leader Khalil al-Marzouq.

Record ID: 214059

  • Title: BAHRAIN: Bahrain's largest opposition party holds mass rally in Maqsha following the detention of Al Wefaq's deputy leader Khalil al-Marzouq.
  • Date: 20th September 2013
  • Summary: MAQSHA, BAHRAIN (SEPTEMBER 20, 2013) (REUTERS) ANTI GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS DURING RALLY MEN SEATED AT FRONT HOLDING BANNERS OF NUMBER OF POLITICAL PRISONERS WOMEN PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS AND BAHRAINI FLAGS SENIOR MEMBERS OF AL WEFAQ PARTY STANDING INCLUDING PARTY'S SECRETARY, SHEIKH ALI SALMAN (CENTRE WEARING WHITE TURBAN AND BLACK CLOAK) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SECRETARY GENERAL OF AL WEFAQ OPPOSITION PARTY, ALI SALMAN, WITH PHOTO OF KHALIL-AL MARZOUK IN BACKGROUND, SAYING: "We present our candidate for Prime Minister and the government can put forward all its members - the regime can put forward all its members, and they have TV and and all media outlets." VARIOUS OF ANTI GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SECRETARY GENERAL OF AL WEFAQ OPPOSITION PARTY, SHEIKH ALI SALMAN, SAYING: "We will persist in this revolution until the end. You have detained Khalil." (hinting to the government) MORE OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SECRETARY GENERAL OF AL WEFAQ OPPOSITION PARTY, SHEIKH ALI SALMAN, SAYING: "You can detain me for the rest of my life." VARIOUS OF ANTI GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 5th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bahrain
  • Country: Bahrain
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA4CDV1LGKOI2RSEL4VTAR74L2
  • Story Text: Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered peacefully on Friday (September 20) following the detention on Tuesday (September 17) of Al Wefaq's deputy leader Khalil al-Marzouq.
    The public prosecutor of the Gulf Arab kingdom had announced on Tuesday Khalil al-Marzouq would be held for 30 days while being investigated for inciting terrorism in a series of speeches.
    In protest at the arrest of its deputy leader, Bahrain's largest opposition party, Al Wefaq, had said it advocated non-violent methods and responded on Wednesday (September 18) by suspending its participation in talks with the government that had been aimed at ending 2-1/2 years of political turmoil.
    Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary General of Al Wefaq, expressed his solidarity with al-Marzouq whilst addressing Friday's rally, attended by most of Bahrain's opposition parties.
    "We will persist in this revolution until the end. You have detained Khalil." Salman told the crowd.
    Persistent unrest since February 2011, when an uprising led by the Shi'ite majority demanded the Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty give up power, has placed Bahrain on the front line of a struggle for regional influence between Shi'ite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia.
    The tiny kingdom - only about a quarter the size of Luxembourg - hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and is seen in the West as a key regional ally. The government has accused Iran of fomenting unrest in Bahrain, a charge Tehran denies.
    The government quelled the 2011 revolt, one of a series of "Arab Spring" upheavals, but protests and clashes have persisted despite talks between government and opposition.
    An international inquiry commission said in a November 2011 report that 35 people had died during the uprising - mainly protesters, but also including five security personnel and seven foreigners.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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