MANAMA: Bahrain’s king has given his heir an additional role to oversee government affairs in an apparent gesture to opposition groups that have led more than two years of protests.

Yesterday’s announcement by the official BNA said that Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa would have the added portfolio of first deputy premier to watch over the performance of top offices in the strategic kingdom.

The appointment would allow the crown prince “to develop the performance of the apparatus of the executive branch,” the state news agency BNA reported, citing a royal decree.

The addition of Prince Salman to the Bahraini Cabinet will be seen as a part of efforts to balance the influence of figures the opposition sees as hard-liners.

“This is the beginning of change in the executive authority to implement Bahrain’s commitments on the political and legal front,” said Abdul Jaleel Khalil Ebrahim, a leader of the opposition bloc Al-Wefaq.

“This is pushing new blood into the Cabinet, the new generation. I am very happy with the appointment. I think it is good for strong progress and change in Bahrain,” said Sameera Rajab, Bahrain’s information minister.