Tens of thousands march in Bahrain, demand cabinet resignation

Mar 4, 2011, 18:56 GMT

Bahrainis wave national flags as they protest during an opposition rally in the capital Manama, Bahrain, on 04 March 2011. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in the capital Manama from the old cabinet house and across from the Bahrain Financial Harbor, a key center for off-shore financial institutions, demanding a new constitution and the government to resign. Bahrain has seen a wave of protests calling for reforms since 14 February 2011 that has lead to the death of 7 people and left hundreds injured. EPA/MAZEN MAHDI

Manama, Bahrain - 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-Shiite 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 February 14th.

The protest demo, one of two opposition rallies on Friday, came just a few hours after sectarian tension flared up between Shiites and recently naturalized 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 Shiite 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 Shiite alone, but it's the country of Sunni and Shiite alike,' he said urging the Shiites to defend their fellow Sunnis against any threat.

'The safety of every Sunni individual and every Sunni family is the responsibility of us Shiites and the safety of every Shiite individual and Shiite family is the responsibility of our brother Sunni,' he declared.

A statement by the nine opposition groups including Islamist Shiites, 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 February 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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