“I will not spare any effort ... in advancing these reforms,” said Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, adding “there can be no leniency with anyone who seeks to split our society into two halves.”

Salman was referring to a draft of comprehensive reforms ordered by King Hamad in response to two months of protests led by the majority against the ruling Al-Khalifa dynasty.

The crown prince did not mention talks with the opposition in his remarks although at the height of unrest he said he was willing to meet with the powerful Wefaq movement which was demanding a real constitutional monarchy with a “government elected by the people.”

Salman blasted those seeking to stir sectarian divisions in Bahrain. “I will continue to be firm on the principle that you cannot be lenient toward those who seek to divide our society into two camps,” he said.

The opposition movement that erupted Feb. 14 calling for democratic reforms in Bahrain was curbed in a bloody government crackdown on demonstrators mid-March. Gulf forces entered Bahrain last month, sparking a war of words between various Gulf states and Iran, and freeing up Bahraini security forces to crush the protests

They say hundreds of people, including politicians, activists and doctors sympathetic to protests, were arrested and several hundred workers, mostly opposition supporters, have been sacked.

Analysts and political sources say Salman lost a battle with hard-liners in his own family to try to take time to launch talks with the opposition instead of using military force, and that hard-liners from both the ruling family and the opposition have now drowned out more moderate voices.