Monday, February 21, 2011

Bahrain protests continue on ninth day

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Pearl roundabout in Manama, which has been the focal point of the unrest that continued for the ninth day, Al-Jazeera TV reported Monday.

The 90-metre monument has gradually turned into a tent city with make-shift kitchens serving meals.

The anti-government protesters have said their demands must be met before they enter into talks with the Gulf state's monarchy.

They want the government to resign, political prisoners to be released, the deaths of protesters investigated and an end to discrimination against Shiite Muslims by the ruling Sunni Muslim minority.

Bahrain's main trade union called off a general strike it had organized for Monday, saying their demand for the right to protest peacefully had been heeded.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa has been tasked by King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa to lead the all-out dialogue with the opposition.

Al-Arabiya TV reported six opposition groups have agreed to join the dialogue without identifying the names of the groups.

The tiny Gulf nation witnessed a mounting wave of protests, inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt which forced their leaders to step down.

Bahrain, a home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, is ruled by the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family where the majority Shiite population say they are facing discrimination in jobs and other services.

Source: Xinhua

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