- Title: BAHRAIN: Anti-government demonstrators march
- Date: 8th March 2011
- Summary: MANAMA, BAHRAIN (MARCH 7, 2011) (REUTERS) TOP SHOT OF PROTESTERS MARCHING TOWARDS THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT (CID) HEADQUARTERS MORE OF PROTESTERS WOMEN PROTESTERS POLICE HELICOPTER HOVERING PROTESTERS OUTSIDE CID HEADQUARTERS, SHOUTING IN ARABIC "WE DEMAND THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS" PROTESTER SHOUTING IN ARABIC "NO SUNII, NO SHIA, WE ARE ALL BAHRAINIS" PROTESTER SHOUTING RIOT POLICE STAND BY INSIDE CID COMPOUND VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AT GATE OF CID HEADQUARTERS. BAHRAIN FINANCE HARBOUR BUILDINGS WITH PROTESTERS. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHADIJA HAMDAN,PROTESTER, SAYING "The main reason for demonstrating here is to overthrow the regime." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HANI ABED AL HUSSEIN, PROTESTER, SAYING "The opposition has been making an effort to lay out the steps to meet their demands since February 14, but the government has been refusing to make any real concessions." MORE OF PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS OF BAHRAIN TRAFFIC POLICE MORE OF PROTESTERS SHOUTING ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS
- Embargoed: 23rd March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bahrain, Bahrain
- Country: Bahrain
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAD2FM361JB47WVB6P9AUD1XFBC
- Story Text: Anti-government demonstrators took the streets of Manama on Monday (March 7) demanding changes from the government.
One group of protesters marched peacefully towards the Criminal Investigation Department building to demand the release of prisoners detained during the weeks of unrest.
Waving the red and white flags, another group gathered at the financial district.
"The opposition has been making an effort to lay out the steps to meet their demands since February 14, but the government has been refusing to make any real concessions," said protester Hani Abed Al Hussein.
On Monday, Bahrain's crown prince warned all sides against escalating a standoff with disgruntled majority Shi'ites seeking an elected government in the Gulf Arab kingdom, asking for patience ahead of a national dialogue.
Bahrain suffered its worst unrest since the 1990s last month when seven people died in a heavy-handed security response to protests by Shi'ites who have long complained of discrimination in Sunni-ruled Bahrain, a close U.S. and Saudi ally.
Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, tapped to lead a dialogue with the opposition, said the protests would continue to be allowed but must remain peaceful.
Bahrain's protesters have been largely peaceful, inspired by mass rallies that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia before sparking an armed insurrection in Libya and smaller protests in other Gulf states such as Oman and Saudi Arabia.
But tensions turned to clashes between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Bahrain on Thursday (March 3), the first direct confrontation between the two communities since large scale protests erupted in the kingdom's main city last month.
Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, is ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa family and its majority Shi'ites have complained of discrimination in jobs, housing and social services. The government denies this.
The government has made some concessions after ordering troops off the streets under international pressure, but formal political dialogue has not yet started.
Bahraini opposition groups said last week they were ready to enter talks with the government without pre-conditions, but have sent a letter to the crown prince saying they wanted a new government and constitution.
Six political groups led by the main Shi'ite opposition group Wefaq want the resignation of the cabinet, a new constitution under which the government is elected and an investigation into the actions of the security forces.
They also seek guarantees that peaceful protests can continue and want state media to give them more coverage. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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