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Thousands
march in Bahrain, demand cabinet resignation
Saturday March 05, 2011 07:58:03 AM,
DPA
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Manama:
Tens of thousands marched in the Bahraini capital Manama Friday
afternoon renewing calls for the cabinet resignation and demanding
the drafting of a new constitution.
Over 50,000 people filled the capital's diplomatic and financial
district chanting their demands and emphasizing Sunni-Shia unity.
They marched from the old cabinet seat, past the strategic Bahrain
Financial Harbor, onward to Lulu Square, which has become the
focal point of anti-government protests since Feb 14th.
The protest demo, one of two opposition rallies Friday, came just
a few hours after sectarian tension flared up between Shias and
recently naturalised Sunni Arabs in Hamad Town south of the
capital Thursday night.
The clashes left at least 8 injured before police managed to step
in and separate the two sides.
The tension continued Friday with many residents standing guard
outside their homes, while police maintained their buffer zone
presence.
Sheikh Ali Salman, secretary-general of the largest Shia
opposition grouping, al-Wefaq, told the crowds that took part in
the Manama rally that their peaceful action forced authorities to
drop the security option, helping them gain support for their
demands.
"This country is not for Shia alone, but it's the country of Sunni
and Shia alike," he said urging the Shias to defend their fellow
Sunnis against any threat.
"The safety of every Sunni individual and every Sunni family is
the responsibility of us Shias and the safety of every Shia
individual and Shia family is the responsibility of our brother
Sunni," he declared.
A statement by the nine opposition groups including Islamist Shias,
leftists, pan-Arab, and communists accused the cabinet of being
responsible of the failure to fully utilize the country's
potential in the past 40 years and of standing behind the alleged
human rights violations dating back to the 1970s.
The statement also said that cabinet ministers were responsible
for the deaths of seven protesters following the Feb 14 protests.
It ruled out the possibility for the opposition to accept an offer
to take part in a national dialogue called for by the crown prince
before the cabinet resigns.
Friday's other protest demo drew several thousand people who
headed to the offices of the Information Affairs Authority which
oversees the operations of the state-run television, BTV, accusing
the station of unfair and provocative coverage of the opposition.
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