Thousands of Shi'ite demonstrators in Bahrain are inspired by popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt
BACKLASH OVER PROTEST DEATHS
Demonstrators poured into Bahrain's capital on Wednesday to mourn for a second protester killed in clashes this week. Several hundred gathered at a funeral procession for a man shot dead when police and mourners clashed at an earlier funeral procession on Tuesday.
"The people demand the fall of the regime!" protesters chanted, with the men pounding their chests, a Shi'ite symbol of sacrifice and anguish.
'THE KING CAN STAY'
For the moment, protesters are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa rather than King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who has the final say in politics.
Sheikh Khalifa, the king's uncle, has governed the Gulf Arab state since its independence in 1971 and is seen as being mostly concerned with keeping the ruling family's grip on politics and the economy.
Bahrain's main stock index was flat on Wednesday, trading slightly higher near four month-highs. Stability concerns have raised the cost of insuring Bahrain's debt to their highest levels since August 2009.
PEACEFUL PROTEST
"We are requesting our rights in a peaceful way," said Bakr Akil, a 20 year-old university student, wearing a sheet stained with red ink that he said was a symbol of his willingness to sacrifice his life for freedom.
"I am optimistic that our big presence will achieve our demands," Akil said.
Women dressed in black abaya cloaks followed the procession with their own chants calling for peace and Bahraini unity.
Elsewhere in central Manama, witnesses said about 2,000 protesters had spent the night in tents at Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout, similar to the number marching on the streets a day earlier.
It remains to be seen whether the number would rise or fall during Wednesday. Some will have to return to work, after a public holiday on Tuesday to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
Police kept their distance, mostly confining themselves to a nearby dirt lot with dozens of SUV police vehicles. The ministry of Interior announced that all roads were open.
REASONS CITED FOR THE PROTEST
The demonstrators from Bahrain's Shi'ite majority say the ruling Sunni minority shuts them out of housing, healthcare and government jobs.
The main Shi'ite opposition bloc Wefaq, which boycotted parliament to protest the clampdown by Sunni security forces, said it would hold talks with the government on Wednesday.
"We support the people here, we are not the decision makers," said Ibrahim Mattar, a Wefaq parliamentarian who had joined the funeral procession.
Now Bahrain faces protests
Thousands of Shi'ite demonstrators in Bahrain are inspired by popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt
BACKLASH OVER PROTEST DEATHS
Demonstrators poured into Bahrain's capital on Wednesday to mourn for a second protester killed in clashes this week. Several hundred gathered at a funeral procession for a man shot dead when police and mourners clashed at an earlier funeral procession on Tuesday.
"The people demand the fall of the regime!" protesters chanted, with the men pounding their chests, a Shi'ite symbol of sacrifice and anguish.
'THE KING CAN STAY'
For the moment, protesters are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa rather than King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who has the final say in politics.
Sheikh Khalifa, the king's uncle, has governed the Gulf Arab state since its independence in 1971 and is seen as being mostly concerned with keeping the ruling family's grip on politics and the economy.
Bahrain's main stock index was flat on Wednesday, trading slightly higher near four month-highs. Stability concerns have raised the cost of insuring Bahrain's debt to their highest levels since August 2009.
PEACEFUL PROTEST
"We are requesting our rights in a peaceful way," said Bakr Akil, a 20 year-old university student, wearing a sheet stained with red ink that he said was a symbol of his willingness to sacrifice his life for freedom.
"I am optimistic that our big presence will achieve our demands," Akil said.
Women dressed in black abaya cloaks followed the procession with their own chants calling for peace and Bahraini unity.
Elsewhere in central Manama, witnesses said about 2,000 protesters had spent the night in tents at Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout, similar to the number marching on the streets a day earlier.
It remains to be seen whether the number would rise or fall during Wednesday. Some will have to return to work, after a public holiday on Tuesday to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
Police kept their distance, mostly confining themselves to a nearby dirt lot with dozens of SUV police vehicles. The ministry of Interior announced that all roads were open.
REASONS CITED FOR THE PROTEST
The demonstrators from Bahrain's Shi'ite majority say the ruling Sunni minority shuts them out of housing, healthcare and government jobs.
The main Shi'ite opposition bloc Wefaq, which boycotted parliament to protest the clampdown by Sunni security forces, said it would hold talks with the government on Wednesday.
"We support the people here, we are not the decision makers," said Ibrahim Mattar, a Wefaq parliamentarian who had joined the funeral procession.
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