MANAMA, 20 May 2004 — Bahrain’s King Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa ordered the release yesterday of 11 opposition members who were detained on April 30 after petitioning for democratic reforms in the country.
“We are ecstatic that the case has been resolved,” head of the influential Shiite society Al Wafaq, Shaikh Al Salman, said Fifteen Al Wafaq members were arrested on April 30 but the prosecutor general released four on Monday.
The heads of nine political societies in Bahrain, including the four opposition groups, met the king earlier yesterday to discuss the release.
Opposition groups circulated a petition demanding constitutional amendments to give greater power to Parliament’s elected house, which is on an equal footing with the appointed house.
Bahrain has introduced reforms since King Hamad took power in 1999. But the opposition led by Shiite group Al-Wafaq want more rights.
