Bahrain Protesters Demand Rights From King

Last updated on: March 9, 2012 at 12:12 pm by

Bahrain Protesters Demand Rights From King 2012-03-09T12:12:21-07:00

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MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Anti-government protesters flooded a major highway in Bahrain on Friday, responding to calls for a show of solidarity against the Gulf nation’s rulers.

Security forces watched the march but made no move to intervene.

Tens of thousands took part in the protest, billed as an attempt to show the resolve of a Shiite-led rebellion against Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy a year after their uprising began.

The large protest was also a reply to Bahrain’s Sunni leadership, which has portrayed the uprising as losing steam ahead of next month’s lucrative Formula One Grand Prix car race, which was canceled last year because of violence on the tiny island.

The march stretched for more than a mile (1.6 kilometers). Some opposition leaders estimated the crowd at nearly 100,000, which would make it one of the largest protest gatherings since the street rallies erupted in February 2011 in the Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

Bahrain’s majority Shiites seek to end the Sunni dynasty’s control of all main posts and policies in the strategic Gulf nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Shiites make up about 70 percent of Bahrain’s 525,000 citizens, but they complain of widespread discrimination and say they are blocked from high-level political and security positions.

Bahrain’s rulers have offered some concessions, including granting more decision-making powers to parliament, but reject demands that include giving up the right to appoint holders of top positions, such as prime minister.

At least 45 people have been killed in the unrest, and hundreds have been arrested.

“Down, down Hamad,” protesters chanted in a reference to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Others carried signs in English and French denouncing the monarchy in an appeal to international media and websites.

Police helicopters hovered over the march, and riot police units were visible along the route.

Organizers said the march would end at a site called Freedom Square outside Bahrain’s capital, Manama. Police reinforcements were sent to keep protesters away from the heavily guarded Pearl Square in the capital, which was the center of the uprising for weeks last year until security forces stormed it and removed protesters by force.

The unrest in Bahrain has put the U.S. in a difficult position. Washington has called for dialogue to try to ease the tensions, but it fears that pressing too hard on Bahrain’s leaders might jeopardize its important military relationships. The 5th Fleet is one of the Pentagon’s main Gulf forces on Iran’s doorstep.

Bahrain and its Gulf Arab allies have accused Shiite Iran of maintaining links to the Bahrain opposition groups, but no direct evidence has been produced.

In Baghdad, about 2,000 Iraqi Shiites called for Bahrain’s king to be banned from the Arab League summit set for the Iraqi capital later this month.

Iraq’s support for Bahrain’s Shiites has angered Sunni Gulf states. That was one of the reasons the League canceled plans to hold its summit in Baghdad last year.

The protesters, followers of hard-line cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, also complained that Syrian President Bashar Assad was not invited. His Alawite religion is an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Syria has been suspended from the Arab League because of Assad’s brutal crackdown on protesters.

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