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| Arabia |
| Bahrain protesters harden stance |
| 2011-02-22 |
| [Arab News] Protesters camped out in Manama's Pearl Square hardened their stance Monday ahead of possible opposition talks with the authorities, while pro-government supporters staged an impressive rally. A young man died of his injuries received during Friday's police action and an exiled opposition figure said he would return home Tuesday. The organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix canceled the March 13 season-opening race, the kingdom's biggest international event it has hosted annually since 2004. A group of young protesters in Pearl Square said they would not be satisfied with anything less than the introduction of a constitutional monarchy and trial of those who ordered the troops to crack down on the protesters. It was not possible to ascertain whether the youthful protesters were coordinating their demands with the mainstream opposition. The protesters in the square call themselves "Youth of Feb. 14." The weeklong unrest has already affected Bahrain's economy. An international rating agency has cut the government's credit ratings because of concerns about political turmoil. The proximity of Pear Square to Manama's major business district and congestion of traffic in and around the square where at least 800 protesters meet and greet each other, serving traditional coffee and dates to passers-by has virtually brought traffic to a standstill. With dusk the number of protesters start swelling, making it harder for trucks to come to the central market and offload fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. Khalid Amin, a leading businessman and member of the board of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industries, urged all parties to give a serious thought to the call for dialogue by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa to resolve the issue. "The sooner we reach an agreement, the better it would be for the country as we can't sit idle and watch deterioration of the economy and destruction of businesses," he said. The pro-government rally that included people in cars started from Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa Highway around 6 p.m. and was moving into Al-Fateh Highway around 9 p.m. |
| Posted by:Fred |