Thousands call for reform in Bahrain

[News_Editor]

Thousands call for reform in Bahrain

2011-06-12 02:58:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANAMA, BAHRAIN (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of people on Saturday protested against the Bahraini government, responding to a call by the main opposition party.

According to CNN, this was the second such protest since the government last week lifted emergency laws that were imposed in mid-March, allowing a crackdown on political leaders and journalists.

Ali Salman, the secretary general of the opposition Al Wefaq, the country's largest Shia opposition party, told protesters that he supports the government's offer of dialogue but said he could not endorse it fully until the conditions for such talks were clear. The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported that Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa pledged cooperation from the government to reach an agreement.

The government's crackdown on protesters has reportedly killed at least 20 people. The violence of the Bahraini security forces on peaceful protesters has drawn international criticism, including from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Social unrest began after protesters called for a "Day of Rage" on February 14 to mark the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter, which returned the country to constitutional rule after the 1990s uprisings.

Initially, people took to the streets to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy, but later they began to call for the removal of the royal Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family, which has ruled the country for almost 40 years.

In mid-March, Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) troops arrived to Bahrain to help protecting the country following weeks of violent protests.

Bahraini authorities have been persecuting activists and opposition in order to avoid further unrest. So far, at least 21 people have been prosecuted for organizing and participating protests which are considered a plot against the state.

According to Bahrain, the number of people in detention was listed at 400, but the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said it had received information that the figure may be higher than 1,000, while more than 50 people remain unaccounted for.

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