Thousands of protesters streamed through Bahrain's diplomatic area and other sites Sunday, chanting against the country's king and rejecting his appeals for talks to end the tiny Gulf nation's nearly two-week-old crisis.
At least three processions paralyzed parts of the capital, Manama, and appeared to reflect a growing defiance of calls by Bahrain's rulers to hold talks to ease the increasingly bitter showdown in the strategic island nation, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
"No dialogue until the regime is gone," marchers chanted as they moved through the highly protected zone of embassies and diplomatic compounds. No violence was reported.
A call by the Bahraini king for national dialog has faced rejection by the main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq, which says the government must resign and troops must withdraw from the streets first.
The deal to talk with people is reneged as Bahrain's military continues to clash with demonstrators, killing several and wounding hundreds.
Bahraini authorities MUST rein in security forces immediately to stop the blood shed. If you're on Twitter, so is the Bahrain Ministry of Interior. Tweet messages to @moi_bahrain immediately. Let them know we're watching the crackdown must end!
Bahrain Army Cracks down Hard on Protesters, kills 4, wounds 95 Bahrain’s king, Hamad Al Khalifa, ordered troops and tanks into Pearl Square in downtown Manama in the early hours of Thursday morning. They fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and used batons to clear the hundreds of demonstrators who had decided to stay the night in the square, killing four protesters and injuring 95. About 50 tanks were reportedly on their way to the site on Thursday morning.
Bahrain Army Cracks down Hard on Protesters, kills 4, wounds 95 Bahrain’s king, Hamad Al Khalifa, ordered troops and tanks into Pearl Square in downtown Manama in the early hours of Thursday morning. They fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and used batons to clear the hundreds of demonstrators who had decided to stay the night in the square, killing four protesters and injuring 95. About 50 tanks were reportedly on their way to the site on Thursday morning.
