Bahrain suffered its worst unrest since the 1990s last month when seven people died in a heavy-handed security response to protests by opposition groups. Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, tapped to lead a dialogue with the opposition, said the protests would continue to be allowed but must remain peaceful.
“These rallies must not infringe upon the freedoms of other people. This is a basic principle. I urge all parties not to escalate matters or to slide into sensationalism. Some people do want this to happen, so we have to be fully committed and to speak out bravely against it,” Sheikh Salman said.
“I hope that everyone will be brave, patient and optimistic and motivated to engage actively in the dialogue,” he told state television. Bahrain’s protesters have been largely peaceful, inspired by mass rallies that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia before sparking an armed uprsising in Libya and smaller protests in other Gulf states.
But tensions turned to sectarian clashes on Thursday, the first such confrontation since large scale protests erupted in the kingdom’s main city last month.
Opposition activists protested at the US Embassy in Bahrain on Monday, calling for Washington to press the authorities for democratic reform after weeks of demonstrations.
About 1,000 demonstrators later massed outside the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science in Manama, chanting slogans. Dozens of activists gathered at a fence set up in front of the US Embassy on Monday morning, chanting slogans.
US Embassy Political Officer Ludovic Hood brought a box of doughnuts for the demonstrators as they gathered down the street from the embassy ahead of the protest rally. The Bahrain's government has made some concessions after ordering troops off the streets, but formal political dialogue has not yet started.
Sheikh Salman said that dialogue should not have a predefined scope.
“No party should define the scope or purpose of the dialogue before we even start. It is important, very important, that we talk about these issues. We have no problem with talking about these issues and discussing them in depth,” he said.
“Around 70 to 80 percent of the demands are shared by all the people. Everybody wants better services. Everybody wants dignity. Everybody wants to be heard. Everybody wants accountability,” he added.
Bahraini opposition groups said last week they were ready to enter talks with the government without preconditions, but have sent a letter to the crown prince saying they wanted a new government and constitution.
Six political groups led by the main opposition group Wefaq want the resignation of the Cabinet, a new constitution under which the government is elected and an investigation into the actions of the security forces during protests.
They also seek guarantees that peaceful protests can continue and want state media to give them more coverage.
